'Special' player who Everton sold for just £400k scored historic hat-trick for his country last night
Everton wanted to keep him...
It has been four years since an Everton player last scored a hat-trick in competitive action.
But if you thought that was a long time ago – Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing a treble past West Brom back in 2020 – then spare a thought for fans of the Northern Irish national team.
Between 2007 and 2024 – a spell of 17 years – not a single player had scored a hat-trick in that green jersey. That was, however, until Bulgaria arrived at Windsor Park on Tuesday night and Isaac Price joined David Healy, Johnny Crossan, Billy McAdams, Colin Clarke and the legendary George Best in the Northern Irish history books.
The former Toffee – Price spent 12 years in Everton’s academy before moving to Belgium with Standard Liege back in 2023 – could hardly have completed his first ever career treble in a more fitting fashion either.
After two close range finishes during the first-half of Northern Ireland’s 5-0 win – their biggest home victory since Best ran Cyprus ragged in 1971 – Price picked up the ball around 25 yards out and fizzed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Former Everton kid Isaac Price hailed after Northern Ireland hat-trick
“It’s five goals he has scored against good opposition,” a delighted Michael O’Neill told a press conference at full-time, Price more than doubling his international tally in the space of 81 minutes.
“I think Isaac is still probably finding his position a bit at club level. He plays in a slightly different position and there are things in his game he knows he needs to improve. But he has real high quality and has demonstrated that over the period we have had him in the team.
“His finishes tonight… For him to be in the position to score takes a real willingness. He covered the ground brilliantly for the first two goals, and the third goal was a bit special.”
A special feat on a special night.
Price, who turned down a new contract at Everton before joining Standard Liege for a compensation fee of just £400,000, has hit the target only once in 49 games for his current employers.
There are certainly lessons Standard boss Ivan Leko can learn from O’Neill, then, as Price wrote his name into the Northern Ireland history books in a more advanced role.
Price channels Ademola Lookman’s Europa League herocis
“It’s the best night of my life. It’s what you dream of as a kid,” Price told reporters after his coming of age display. “There’s no better feeling. My mum and dad were here to see it
“All the sacrifices they’ve made to get me to this point, and they can come and witness that, it’s great for me and my family. It’s just surreal.
“[George Best] is a Northern Ireland legend and hero,” Price adds after emulating the Manchester United icon. “To do that is pretty surreal, really.
“To follow up on that is unbelievable.”
Price is not the first former Everton youngster to score a hat-trick that will go down in history either.
Ademola Lookman’s treble fired Atalanta to Europa League glory in May. His stunning solo display against Bayer Leverkusen made Lookman the first player since Jupp Heynckes in 1975 to score three goals in a European final.
TBR understands that Lookman is now on the radar of Tottenham, Newcastle United and Arsenal. A return to Merseyside is also on the cards with Liverpool.
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