Leighton Baines will take to the Everton dugout alongside caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson on Saturday after the sacking of Rafa Benitez.
Marcel Brands will not not be surprised.
The ECHO understands the former director of football - who was keen to use players who knew the club in a coaching capacity - had initially earmarked Baines to one day manage a youth team within the academy set-up.
With Paul Tait popular among the under-18s, and academy director David Unsworth leading the under-23s, Baines' opportunity would likely have been with a younger age group.
But after the departures of Francis Jeffers and Phil Jevons in October, Baines 'stepped up' his title of professional development coach to include u-18 assistant for the remainder of the current campaign.
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And he did not look out of place in the dugout when deep in conversation with Tait, at Goodison Park, for the FA Youth Cup fourth round win over Sheffield United last Friday.
Four days later and he was appointed part of the first-team coaching trio alongside Ferguson and John Ebbrell to replace Benitez.
But this is not a token gesture from Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright as they work out a succession plan to the Spaniard.
Baines has been quick to impress.
Tait labelled his impact as 'fantastic' after the u-18 move was confirmed, while Unsworth told the ECHO he would be 'crucial' just months after his retirement.
Baines was a frequent visitor to Southport to watch the u-23s last season, and was seen holding private talks with players after matches.
Jarrad Branthwaite was one Baines took under his wing, holding a one-to-one conversation outside the dressing room after a draw at Blackburn Rovers.
The ECHO was told Baines was involved in the 'deliberate' decision to reduce the average age of the u-23 set-up, alongside Brands and Unsworth, as exciting youngsters such as Reece Welch and Lewis Dobbin developed quickly.
Recent signing Francis Okoronkwo, who has shone in the FA Youth cup after joining from Sunderland in September, also described Baines' influence as 'incredible' in the run-up to the game at Goodison.
But it is not just the youngsters who are benefitting.
Richarlison sees Baines as a role model, alongside club captain Seamus Coleman, while three-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti was desperate to keep the left-back at the club upon his retirement in 2020.
There is, in short, no doubting Baines' credibility as a coach or person. But this week has thrown up a new and unexpected challenge in his fledgling coaching career.
The 37-year-old emerged smiling from the Finch Farm changing rooms on Tuesday as he helped lead the first training session of the post-Benitez era, remaining heavily involved throughout.
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Baines looks as fit as he did when he was a regular starter for Everton, but his calm and thoughtful manner could well be beneficial to the emotional Ferguson on the touchline, at least on Saturday.
Regular u-23 watchers have noticed Baines clutching a black notebook during matches, no doubt adding his own collection of ideas after learning under managers as varied as Paul Jewell, David Moyes, Sam Allardyce and Carlo Ancelotti during his playing career.
He is likely to be scribbling more notes during the coming days, and his own development as coach - and, potentially, a future manager - will be an interesting sub-plot if Everton can steady the ship on and off the field.
Despite initially ruling himself out of a post-retirement career in football in 2014, Baines' presence is, without question, a bonus for Ferguson and Everton against Aston Villa on Saturday.
And after being denied a proper send-off by coronavirus and closed stadiums upon his retirement 18 months ago, he will hopefully be serenaded accordingly if the home side can secure a much-needed victory.
Perhaps, if they do, there will be more kind words and praise for the studious Baines, both privately and publicly.
But Brands, Ancelotti and the others he has already impressed will not be surprised.
