‘Special’ player who Everton sold for just £400k scores historic hat-trick for his country
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.”
