Everton boss David Moyes rates Steven Naismith as a long-term investment.
The Scotland international netted his first competitive goal for the Blues in last month's 219th Merseyside derby.
That goal came almost a year to the day after Naismith's last game for Rangers - a fateful match at Aberdeen that saw him withdrawn in the 24th minute after sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Moyes told evertonfc.com: "I do think the goal was important because Steven is coming back from a cruciate injury. He had a first cruciate earlier in his career at Glasgow Rangers.
"I spoke to Walter Smith at the time and he said it took him a while to come back. Now he has had his second cruciate so we're still waiting on him a little but he did well in the game (against Liverpool), scored his goal and it will give him that extra confidence. He will be a good, steady Everton player over time."