Wayne Rooney is eyeing a milestone when he returns to Everton on Saturday - his 100th career goal.
Player could get 100th career goal when he returns to first club
Wayne Rooney is eyeing a significant milestone when he returns to boyhood club Everton on Saturday - his 100th career goal.
It would be fitting if the England striker could reach three figures at Goodison Park, where he scored 17 goals before leaving for Manchester United.
The first - the fantastic match-winner against Arsenal as a raw 16-year-old - saw him become the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history for a time.
Now, as he turns 23 on Thursday, he says reaching the significant milestone would be a great birthday present.
He said: "For obvious reasons, Saturday is a big game for me.
"It is always nice for any player to score 100 goals and if I can do that back at Everton, where I started and at Goodison Park, where I scored my first Premier League goal, it would be really pleasing.
Really sweet
"But it wouldn't really matter if it was my first or my 100th, it would still be really sweet."
Rooney has been a top-flight regular for more than six years and he does not know where the time has flown.
He said: "It doesn't feel like six years since I made my Premier League debut.
"I remember Alan Stubbs telling me to try and enjoy it because time passes more quickly than you think. And it has flown by.
"I just want to try and enjoy every game and every season as much as I can because before too long it will be over."
The striker is currently at the top of his form, scoring nine goals in the last seven games for club and country.
Purple patch
This purple patch comes after he was effectively dropped by Sir Alex Ferguson in the game against Bolton.
But Rooney does not know how the transformation has occurred, except perhaps increased confidence.
He said: "I haven't got a clue what has changed.
"I am starting to play a lot higher up the pitch and maybe I am attacking defenders a bit more than I was but the manager always allows you to attack players and create things in the opposition half. That has not changed.
"Obviously, when you score goals you get more confident and try different things. I am starting to run at defenders and commit them a bit more, so maybe that's it.
"I just know I was disappointed my goal ratio slipped from 23 to 18 last season, so I want to get it back into the 20s this season."
