Steven Pienaar finally got his season started last night, but it was an unhappy return for the Bafana Bafana midfielder as Everton crashed out of the Uefa Cup against Standard Liege in Belgium.

The introduction of Pienaar, who came off the bench to play the last 20 minutes, was the only positive for coach David Moyes as his side lost 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

It was the first piece of action on the field for the 26-year-old since August 9 when he broke his toe against PSV Eindhoven in a pre-season friendly.

The news will also be welcome for Bafana coach Joel Santana, who has not included Pienaar in his squad for the final 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Equatorial Guinea on October 11, but may well bring him back into the frame for Mandela Challenge against Cameroon on November 19.