An exciting and youthful Norwich side, which also included lively showings from Andrew Surman and Andrew Crofts, refused to back down in the face of losing a second goal just before the break and stormed out after the interval.

Pulling a goal back two minutes into the second half when Andrew Crofts profited from static marking to power thunderous header beyond Howard, City mounted a recovery.

Twelve minutes later and the scores were level, as Norwich caught Everton napping again when Surman collected a routine throw-in, cut into the area with ease and fired with accuracy past Howard.

Game on it seemed, but Everton responded immediately with the strike of the game courtesy of substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

Collecting a neat back-heel from Pienaar, the Russian winger found the top left hand corner of Ruddy’s goal with swerve and power from the edge of the area to make the scores 3-2 on the hour.

The spark which had lit up Norwich’s play somewhat fizzled out after the third Everton goal and 10 minutes later Cahill rubber stamped the win with his third, and best, goal of the afternoon.

Neville’s chip into the box evaded the City defenders allowing Cahill to chest down, flick sublimely over the advancing Ruddy before hammering the ball home from close range.

Grant Holt’s introduction for the home side briefly threatened to stir a revival in Norwich but they ultimately ran out of steam and had Ruddy to thank for keeping the deficit to just two goals as he saved well from late replacement Jack Rodwell.

Everton added another victory to their pre-season campaign at Carrow Road and perhaps the names of some future players.