Although on target last week against Tottenham, Yakubu has been short of games and confidence this season since returning from the serious Achilles problem that sidelined him for nine months.

The striker had already spurned one great opening when, after George Boateng lost possession outside the Hull area, Leon Osman fed Yakubu only for the Nigerian to hit the post from 10 yards with just Myhill to beat.

And his penalty boob fleetingly appeared costly when Hull equalised four minutes later. There seemed little danger when Jagielka headed clear Jimmy Bullard’s free-kick, but the ball fell to Tom Cairney who took one touch to control before unleashing a magnificent angled volley that flew in past Tim Howard from 20 yards.

However, parity only lasted until the 39th minute when Everton regained the lead with another well-worked goal.

Victor Anichebe, again asked to patrol the right flank, burst down the wing and fed a ball inside for Steven Pienaar to backheel into the path of the incoming unmarked Arteta, who stroked home from 12 yards.

The second half began as the first ended. Anichebe had a goal chalked off for offside and an effort from substitute Rodwell – on for the injured Osman – was scrambled clear.

But Everton didn’t have to wait long to extend their lead on 51 minutes, with Arteta again influential.

The Spaniard delivered a cross from the byline on the left and, after Myhill botched his attempt to pat the delivery over the crossbar for a corner, the ball hit the unwitting Richard Garcia in the face and drifted over the line.

With Phil Brown’s Hull demoralised, it was then a matter of how many Everton wanted to score.

Rodwell was denied by a brave Cairney block, a marauding Sylvain Distin warmed the palms of Myhill while Yakubu’s woes continued with a weak shot at the Hull goalkeeper before ballooning over from eight yards when found by Donovan.

The American international showed the Nigerian how it is done with a crisp angled finish with eight minutes remaining and he then turned provider four minutes later, laying Heitinga’s pass in for Rodwell to sidefoot past the increasingly fed-up Hull keeper Myhill. Moyes admitted afterwards he lost count of the score.

If only Everton’s injury list had been rationed this season.