Everton have spent £400million in recent seasons and still do not have a goalscorer, or so goes popular opinion. They do now.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was Carlo Ancelotti’s match-winner for the second time in three days with a double that takes his tally to five in as many matches in the Premier League.
His new boss was right to say on the eve of this game that the 22-year-old was central to his plans, amid talk of a January transfer splurge in search of goals.
There is no need for such expense with Calvert-Lewin in this form and Ancelotti is now the first Everton manager since David Moyes in 2002 to win their first two league games in charge.
On full-time the immaculately-suited Italian made his way around each of his players on the St James’ Park turf but saved the best for last, wrapping his arms around Calvert-Lewin before accepting a hearty roar of approval from the visiting fans.
It takes the Toffees above Steve Bruce’s Newcastle and into the top half of the table after an entertaining contest that brought a staggering 42 shots on goal, 22 of them for the visitors.
Bruce will complain about the award of an Everton corner shortly before the opening goal - and with justification - but Newcastle still had three attempts to clear before the 13th-minute concession.
Indeed, the goal came from a subsequent free-kick when Gylfi Sigurdsson returned his own blocked shot and a deflection took the ball into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who gratefully tucked home from six yards.
The lead was deserved but they failed to build on their supremacy and spent the last 15 minutes of the first half in survival mode. They made it to the break with their advantage intact thanks to a combination of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and some errant finishing. Miguel Almiron was the chief culprit for Newcastle, the Paraguayan who broke a 27-game scoreless run in the last outing here but reverted to misfiring forward this time.
Fabian Schar knocked Pickford off his feet with one thunderous drive while a Joelinton effort was a far easier collect for the custodian, who was booed throughout given his Sunderland roots.
The hosts, however, failed to take that momentum into the second period and their leveller on 56 minutes was against the run of play, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka having twice saved from Moise Kean early in the half.
The goal again owed much to Andy Carroll’s aerial prowess - that has proved a rich source of late - and his knockdown from a deep Jetro Willems free-kick was volleyed in by Schar.
But back Everton came and it was no surprise when their winner emanated from another offensive down Newcastle’s left, where Florian Lejeune had endured a torrid afternoon.
Carroll lost possession on the touchline and, when Theo Walcott freed Richarlison, the Brazilian burned by Lejeune before rolling to the far post for a sliding Calvert-Lewin to turn in on 64 minutes.
There was a half-hearted penalty appeal late on when Carroll went down amid bodies, but Newcastle did not do enough in the closing stages to deserve a point.
Rather, the day belonged to Calvert-Lewin, and few could grumble with that following a masterclass in centre-forward play.
Who said Everton did not have a goalscorer?