Carlo Ancelotti says Everton’s young players repaid his confidence with their assured display to beat Salford City and reach round three of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Manager Ancelotti’s sweeping changes following Sunday’s Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur included debuts for Niels Nkounkou and goalkeeper Joao Virginia.

Anthony Gordon, starting for the first time since signing a new five-year deal this month, was in scintillating form on the left flank.

The 19-year-old teed up Gylfi Sigurdsson for Everton’s second goal on 74 minutes and was fouled in the box 13 minutes later, Moise Kean converting the penalty.

Gordon’s forward dart had led to the corner from which Michael Keane headed home on eight minutes to set Everton on their way to a third-round trip to Fleetwood Town.

The one sour note for Everton was an injury to Jarrad Branthwaite which ended the 18-year-old’s night after 24 minutes, with Ancelotti “hoping it is nothing bad” ahead of a check on Thursday.

“Our goal was to move on in this competition, to go forward with a good performance and attitude,” Ancelotti told evertonfc.com.

“I have seen all of this – and some good performances.

“I have confidence in all the players.

“You have to be patient with young players because they have to improve and reach the top level.

“It is important for them to stay focused, be patient and work hard.

“There was a good spirit in the team, from the players who haven’t played a lot with us, too.

“When the spirit is good the performance is usually good.

“I am satisfied with this match.”

Opening goalscorer Keane was the only player in Everton’s starting line-up who began the uplifting weekend success against Spurs.

Sigurdsson captained Everton and seized his chance to impress, sending over the corner for Keane’s strike and marking his century of starts for the Club with his 24th goal.

Frenchman Nkounkou, meanwhile, signed in July following the end of his Marseille contract, seized his opportunity at left-back.

The 19-year-old attempted seven crosses in a display packed with attacking ambition.

Gordon struck one-quarter of Everton’s mammoth total of 32 shots.

Indeed, the forward’s eight efforts was the most by an Everton player in a game since Kevin Mirallas in April 2017 against Burnley.

He came closest when striking the rebound against the bar after Kean – who had already hit the woodwork and confidently dispatched his penalty following Bruno Andrade's foul on Gordon – hit the base of a post with a header.

Academy graduate Gordon started four times in the Premier League last season following a full debut against Liverpool in June but missed out on this term’s opener at Spurs.

“He did well, he was dangerous in front, one-on-one he was quick, it was a good performance,” said Ancelotti.

“Every player wants to play, I know this.

“But he is young.

“He has to improve step by step.

“His performance is good.

“He has to be focused in training, work hard. And he will be a good player because he has the skills and ability.

Ancelotti added: “When you start a competition, you try to do your best.

“All the competitions are important.

“We started the season well with these two games [Tottenham and Salford] but we have to focus only on the next game [against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday]. Nothing more.”