Tom Davies returned to Everton’s U21s side over the weekend as he looks to earn a deal at a new club after leaving Sheffield United in the summer. The former Toffees man was released by United when his contract came to an end.

He has had a torrid time with injuries in recent times but was hopeful of resuming his career somewhere, after leaving the Lane on good terms. But he has not yet found a new club.

And he was invited back to Everton in the meantime to keep his fitness, coming on as a second-half substitute in their Premier League 2 draw at Crystal Palace.

An excellent late equaliser from Omari Benjamin earned Davies and Co. a share of the spoils after Seb Williams had put Palace ahead early in the second half.

Davies had a long spell at Goodison Park before turning down a new contract offer and leaving his boyhood club, eventually ending up at the Blades - who, under Paul Heckingbottom, had just been promoted to the Premier League.

But he managed only 11 starts for United in that three-year period, although he impressed all he worked with at Bramall Lane - including current manager Chris Wilder - with his attitude throughout his frustrating career in South Yorkshire.

"Tom’s an unbelievable professional,” Everton’s head of academy player development Dave Hughes said. “All the staff and players have witnessed that he’s a model professional in the way that he goes about his work.

“He’s shown the players, if they needed it, what a top professional looks like. How he trains, how he conducts himself. He’s given guidance and advice to the younger players. He’s been a credit to himself and to the academy."

Posting on social media back in April when his United exit was confirmed, Davies described playing for the Blades as a “genuine honour” and added: “Over the past three years, I've appreciated the backing I’ve had from the fans and the friendships I've built with teammates, which I will carry with me long beyond my time here.

“Looking ahead, I feel like I'm in a really good place. I am fully fit, healthy, and ready to take on a new challenge. I'll be using the off-season to put in the work with my personal team to ensure I'm in the best possible shape for whatever comes next.

“I'm hungry and motivated for the next challenge. I know there's a lot more to come from me, and I'm looking forward to giving my all in the next chapter. Thank you again to everyone connected to Sheffield United for your support throughout my time at the club - it's meant a lot to me and my family.”