Brazilian World Cup star Juninho brought a little bit of sunshine to Middlesbrough today.

He marked his first league appearance in his third spell for club by grabbing the equaliser against Everton at the Riverside Stadium.

Snapped up for £3.8million from Atletico Madrid in the close season, he then suffered cruciate ligament damage during a pre-season friendly and needed surgery to correct the injury.

Juninho was introduced at the start of the second half and triggered a recovery by Middlesbrough after Steve Watson had put Everton ahead.

Substitute Wayne Rooney should have delivered the winner for the visitors in stoppage time, but steered his effort wide when it seemed easier to score.

Everton opened brightly and Thomas Gravesen dragged a shot across the face of the area after a good build up involving Kevin Campbell and Thomas Radzinski.

Canadian striker Radzinski, who scored twice last week, was posing a threat in the early stages of the game.

Colin Cooper launched a long ball to the back post and Alan Stubbs was left on the floor after an aerial collision with Michael Ricketts.

He recovered after brief treatment, but was still limping as he took his place back in the heart of the defence.

Everton have maintained a lofty position in the league thanks mainly to good organisation and hard work.

That was in evidence again this afternoon as they got men back in numbers every time Middlesbrough tried to break forward.

Everton made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute when Radzinski chased what looked like a lost cause after David Unsworth knocked the ball down the line.

The Canadian striker skipped away from Chris Riggott with a surging run and released Campbell in the area. He in turn found Watson, whose shot bobbled beyond Schwarzer for his sixth goal of the season.

With Chelsea, losing earlier in the day it was just the boost Everton needed in their bid for European football.

Middlesbrough re-grouped, though, and Geremi found the side netting with a powerful shot from an acute angle.

Radzinski's pace was causing Middlesbrough problems and he got in a shot after a flick on from Campbell only for Franck Queudrue to block his effort.

There was a scare for Everton after 37 minutes when goalkeeper Richard Wright spilled a shot from Colin Cooper after he was released by Ricketts.

Geremi then tried to thread the ball through to the former Bolton man, but David Weir made a good block and the move broke down.

Middlesbrough were having a lot of possession, but creating very little, going into the second half, against a compact Everton side.

Juninho was given a standing ovation by the supporters when he came on for Colin Cooper at the start of the second period.

Everton carved out a good chance in the 50th minute when David Unsworth picked out Watson at the far post.

He nodded the ball into the path of Campbell, but the striker steered his effort wide of the target.

Middlesbrough were looking a bit more inventive with the introduction of Juninho.

There was a wave of expectation around the ground every time he touched the ball.

But Everton continued to look sound and disciplined with goalkeeper Wright hardly troubled, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Stubbs and Weir looked solid at the back and Gravesen was working his socks off in midfield following his recall to the starting line-up.

Everton manager David Moyes made a change in the 70th minute bringing on American World Cup striker Brian McBride for the tiring Campbell.

Juninho marked his comeback by grabbing the equaliser in the 74th minute when he smashed the ball in following a square ball from Massimo Maccarone following a driving run by George Boateng.

That triggered a good spell of pressure from the home side and Maccarone delivered a cross into the area that Stubbs did well to clear under pressure from Ricketts.

Rooney was then introduced into the action after 78 minutes for Gravesen and should have secured the points in stoppage time.

But with just the goalkeeper to beat, he knocked his shot wide of the target after a superb through ball from Gary Naysmith.

However the point was enough for Everton to move above Chelsea and into a Champions League spot.

Teams

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Queudrue, Riggott (Ehiogu 45), Southgate, Cooper (Juninho Paulista 45), Parnaby, Greening, Boateng, Geremi, Christie (Maccarone 45), Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Nemeth, Crossley.

Goals: Juninho Paulista 74.

Everton: Wright, Pistone, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Naysmith, Watson, Gravesen (Rooney 78), Gemmill, Radzinski, Campbell (McBride 65).

Subs Not Used: Li Tie, Yobo, Gerrard.

Goals: Watson 23.

Att: 32,473

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).