Theo Walcott double sees Everton hold on to victory over a distracted Leicester City

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Theo Walcott previously harboured a move to Merseyside, but his teenage self would perhaps not quite have envisaged rebuilding his career in Everton colours.

Behind the sheepish smiles when he posed for photographs with Arsene Wenger as a 16-year-old at Arsenal’s training ground on 20 January 2006, the pair clutching a red wine-coloured shirt with the no.32 on the back, lay another story.

Walcott had been desperate for a move to Liverpool, and was understood to be distraught that Liverpool had not followed up their interest – Rafael Benitez seemingly unwilling to become involved in a bidding war and it was Arsenal who signed the Southampton prodigy.

In May of the previous year Walcott had been rabidly celebrating Liverpool’s Champions League final victory over AC Milan at his home in the leafy Berkshire village of Compton.

Twelve years later he arrived at Everton from Arsenal, at his peak in terms of age but largely pigeon-holed as a talent unfulfilled at the Gunners and even criticism of a wasted career.

At Goodison Park against Leicester City the 28-year-old looked like a player on the cusp of a revival.

Walcott’s performance brimmed with energy, purpose and for Everton the precious commodity of goals, so lacking since Romelu Lukaku’s sale to Manchester United.

Across Stanley Park the goalscoring prowess of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had seemingly been abandoned by Arsene Wenger only to be reignited by Jurgen Klopp.

And in the more unlikely guise of Sam Allardyce, Walcott might have found a manager with more faith in him than he enjoyed towards the back end of his time in North London under the Frenchman.

Indeed, if he proves this performance was more than just a fleeting reminder of his talent then a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad might not be beyond him.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s improved workrate has been one of the most notable features of Allardyce’s reign thus far, and it was from the Icelandic’s pressing that the Toffees profited for Walcott’s opener.

Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell was caught in possession by Sigurdsson and the Everton record £45m signing’s delivery found the run of Walcott, who showed composure at the back post to side-foot the ball home.

Everton added a second before the break. Wayne Rooney’s quality on the ball saw him pick out Michael Keane and his header back across goal dropped at the feet of Walcott and he calmly volleyed home.

Both goals might have been routine, but Walcott’s finesse was in stark contrast to Oumar Niasse, bizarrely asked to lead the line ahead of an Allardyce signing in Cenk Tosun.

The Senegal striker screwed a shot wide from six yards to the despair of the Park End, and the groans were audible again when he was put through on goal only for a heavy touch to allow Kasper Schmeichel to gather.

Everton still give the impression of square pegs in round holes; a team caught in a no man’s land between what the players think they should be and what Allardyce wants them to be.

But the addition of Walcott, and particularly his pace in a side of plodders, has at least given some focus to Everton’s play.

The Toffees made life difficult for themselves in the second half as the rain belted down, and with 20 minutes to go Rooney tugged Wilfred Ndidi and referee Christopher Kavanagh pointed to the penalty spot.

Jamie Vardy emphatically dispatched the spot kick and moments later there was panic in the Everton six-yard box from a corner as substitute Kelechi Iheanacho twice struck the woodwork.

Everton had their backs to the wall, but Allardyce reacted. His side broke up and disruptive Leicester’s play with niggly fouls which killed their momentum.

It had been seven matches without a victory in all competitions for the Toffees but this win re-established a cushion above the relegation zone.

“Theo, Theo” came the encouraging chants from the Gwladys Street Road End and with defender Seamus Coleman having successfully come through his first game following 319 days out with a double leg break, the mood at Goodison like Walcott's outlook is decidely more optimistic.