NEW YEAR and many happy returns. None, though, will have been quite as heartfelt as that of Victor Anichebe.

The 23-year-old has spent much of the campaign in the treatment room having toiled to recover from the groin injury that had sidelined him for four months.

There was little fanfare when Anichebe slipped on to the substitutes bench almost unnoticed for yesterday’s Premier League clash at West Bromwich Albion.

But, having been thrown into the fray shortly after the hour to breathe life into a listless Everton attack, the striker announced his comeback by netting a dramatic late winner for David Moyes’s side.

Small wonder the mixture of delight and sheer relief on Anichebe’s face as he wheeled away to celebrate in front of a jubilant away support.

2011 was a year to forget for the Nigerian. And nor will it be recalled with any great affection by any of Everton’s strikers.

That it was only Anichebe’s eighth Premier League goal and first in the top flight since March 2010 indicates he has never been the most prolific scorer.

But with Moyes now desperately seeking striking reinforcements during the January transfer window, this was a timely reminder of an option already at his disposal.

Even the Goodison manager was gracious to admit that until Anichebe capitalised on some woeful West Brom defending, the game had goalless draw written all over it.

Everton, though, won’t mind a jot. This extends their unbeaten run to four games, a sequence built on the foundation of a defence that has now conceded just five goals in their last eight games.