Tony Hibbert was also back after a month on the sidelines and, having seen the composed debut of Lars Jacobsen at Fratton Park, stamped his mark on the right-back slot with a fine display.

Everton’s hopes of victory received a boost before the game when Titus Bramble was named in Wigan’s starting line-up.

The centre-back has carved an error-prone niche for himself, and he was culpable in helping set the home side on their way in the 27th minute.

Good interplay through midfield saw Fellaini feed Osman, whose instant, incisive pass found Jo unmarked in the area with the Brazilian flashing a clinical drive across Chris Kirkland into the bottom left-hand corner of the Wigan goalkeeper’s net.

A fuming visiting defence claimed offside, only for television replays to back up the linesman’s decision not to raise a flag by showing a dozing Bramble having failed to move out. That, though, shouldn’t detract from the quality in the build-up to the goal, a rare glimmer of light during a low-key first half in which Everton’s greater enterprise ensured they were rarely in danger.

Osman dragged an early shot wide, Fellaini headed at Kirkland from Hibbert’s deep ball while Steven Pienaar was off target with another effort.

However, Wigan’s only chance of the opening 45 minutes was one they should have taken, Scharner rising above Hibbert to meet Antonio Valencia’s clipped cross only to head wastefully over Tim Howard’s crossbar.

The second half was a procession for Moyes’s side. Fellaini doubled their advantage two minutes after the break by meeting Hibbert’s low cross with an instant half-volley beyond Kirkland. It was Everton’s 800th goal since the start of the Premier League.

Everton’s third came six minutes later, a quick passing movement between Pienaar, Osman and Fellaini carving through the Wigan defence before the Belgian’s shot was parried by Kirkland into the path of Jo to nudge gleefully home.

Osman got the goal his enterprise deserved just past the hour, on hand to tap in after Kirkland found an awkward, bouncing long-range effort from Fellaini too hot to handle.

Job done, Everton declared at four. They, like Jo, know that greater tasks lie in wait.