Everton midfielder Gareth Barry has claimed that the team could have done with Gerard Deulofeu last season following the Spaniard's match-winning goal in last night's Capital One Cup tie against Reading.

The winger spent the 2013-14 season at Goodison Park on loan from Barcelona, but returned to Camp Nou before being sent out on a temporary spell at Sevilla.

Last season, Everton finished 11th in the Premier League, and Barry has insisted that Deulofeu's quality was missed.

The 21-year-old made his first start of the season at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night, and was able to net from a free kick in the 73rd minute to give his side a 2-1 victory.

"At times last season one of our downfalls was breaking teams down, who sat back, but someone like Gerri can come in and change that around," Barry told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's been frustrating for him because he wants to be playing and starting games but the manager has spoken about being successful and needing the whole squad, and Gerri is part of that."

The result has put Everton into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.