THE Merseyside derby has coughed up its fair share of unlikely heroes over the years. From Danny Cadamarteri and David Speedie to Paul Wilkinson and Alan Waddle, a succession of improbables have made decisive contributions in English football’s most historic parochial spat.

What all have in common is their careers never again scaled the heights reached by etching their names in derby folklore.

On Wednesday, Dan Gosling became the latest unheralded player to have sealed local bragging rights when his last-gasp injury-time goal earned Everton victory in the 211th meeting with Liverpool and progress to the FA Cup fifth round.

But the general consensus among those at Goodison Park is the youngster is destined to become much more than just a one-off derby hero.

Gosling, who only turned 19 on Monday, has given great cause for encouragement ever since being signed as a 17-year-old for £1.2million from Plymouth Argyle in January 2008.

The midfielder impressed during pre-season but had to wait until Boxing Day before breaking into the first team with his debut at Middlesbrough.

A first goal came as substitute at home to Sunderland two days later, which earned him a standing ovation from his team-mates.

It’s a measure of the confidence David Moyes has in Gosling that the Goodison manager had few qualms throwing the player into a red-hot derby atmosphere for only his fifth Everton appearance as a 53rd-minute substitute for Marouane Fellaini.

And while loath to place unnecessary pressure on Gosling’s fledgling top-flight career, team-mate Mikel Arteta believes that, with the right nurturing, Everton could have a gem on their hands.

“Dan has great ability is strong and can run with the ball, can score a goal,” says the Spaniard. “He has got the talent. If he is given the right opportunities he can become a major player for Everton.