Gylfi Sigurdsson is targeting more “special moments” with Everton after being honoured for reaching his 50-goal Premier League landmark.
Midfielder Sigurdsson was presented with a Cadbury’s Premier League Milestones award at the Club’s USM Finch Farm training base, having brought up his half-century in characteristically stylish fashion against Leicester City this month.
The Icelander collected a pass from Kurt Zouma with his back to goal and promptly spun the fast-closing James Maddison with a deft piece of footwork.
Sigurdsson took a few steps before unloading a curling shot which zipped beyond helpless goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and won the game for Everton.
“It is fantastic to reach 50 goals, a great achievement, and hopefully there are many more to come,” said Sigurdsson.
“The one at Leicester is definitely up there among my favourite goals, There’s a couple of others I like but that one was my 50th so it made it even more special.
“I remember getting the ball, I was going to pass it back but I took a chance and turned, saw a bit of space and thought, ‘Why not have a go?’ – and it was nice to see it finish in the back of the net.”
Sigurdsson first netted in the competition for former club Swansea City in a match at West Bromwich Albion in February 2012 and joins an elite band of footballers who have struck 50 times in England's top flight.
Teammate Theo Walcott with 70 is the only current Everton player with more Premier League goals than Sigurdsson, who is in illustrious company on the 50 mark. Manchester City’s Spanish magician David Silva, Edin Dzeko, now at Roma and formerly with City, and Chelsea’s former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, have each hit precisely 50 Premier League goals.
Sigurdsson has struck four times in the league this season alone – he was also on target against West Ham United and struck a double in last month’s victory over Fulham.
And the 29-year-old, whose Premier League debut came as a substitute for Swansea in a 3-2 victory over Arsenal in January 2012, is determined to continue adding to his tally.
His next opportunity is likely to come against Manchester United on Sunday, with Marco Silva’s eighth-placed team preparing to visit Old Trafford to take on a side two spots and one point beneath them in the table.
“There are a lot of good players who have scored 50 goals in the Premier League so I am happy to be in that club,” said Sigurdsson, who has played 218 Premier League games and became Everton’s record signing when he joined from Swansea 14 months ago.
“Hopefully I can score a few more now - I was asked straight after the Leicester match if I was looking to reach another milestone and I said I had another 50 to go!
“The hundred is a long, long way away but you never know what will happen. Hopefully I will get a few more and we will see where we end up.
“I will never forget my first one at West Brom. It was snowing, a freezing day, and it was another special goal for me. Now I want more of them.
“As a young player making your debut you don’t think about potential individual achievements. But I have played quite a few games in the Premier League, so it was nice to get to 50 goals and a special way to do it.”
