Romelu Lukaku reaches maturity by passing half-century as Everton thrash Aston Villa

Lukaku has 50 Premier League goals before his 23rd birthday, a select group of players

ROMELU LUKAKU was aware of the landmark and wise to the company he now keeps.

 

More importantly for Everton, he also knows now is not the time to ease off.

The striker elevated his name alongside Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to muster more than 50 Premier League goals before their 23rd birthday with a clinical brace.

It is a milestone which reflects Lukaku's blossoming progress, his £28m price-tag is no longer a talking point, but it was his response to reaching the level that provided the real insight.

"It is an elite group of players," said the forward, who brought up his half-century with a deft header and made it 51 by rounding off a flowing team move.

 

"You look at what they have delivered in their careers and you have two players who have won the Ballon d'Or.

"You have Rooney, who could have won it several times in his career because of how he has performed, and you have Fowler who has been one of the best goal-scorers in the game.

"To be on that list is a blessing, but I have to go higher. I cannot stand still. I never stand still. I just perform, enjoy it for a day and then there is the next game. You have to move forward.

"It is a maturity process for me to keep on evolving as a player and to be there for my team."

 

Barkley was also in sparkling form as Everton looked a complete unit

By way of a reminder, there was a playful slap on the back from Roberto Martinez and a demand for "more goals" as the Everton manager walked past.

Martinez knows a continuation of Lukaku's scoring streak, he has 11 goals this term, will bring problems and has already flagged up the need to qualify for the Champions League to keep his squad together.

The increasingly influential Ross Barkley claimed a brace of his own and dashing Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu has helped Everton scored a goal every 32 minutes when he has played. Without him, they score every 85 minutes.

"I can understand why he said it," said Lukaku.

"He has a lot of players who have a lot of potential. If we want to play in the Champions League we need to get results also in the big games, but now we have a run of games where we can win every single game."