Former Premier League star Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his first international goal in three years as Iceland thrashed Liechtenstein on Monday night.
The 34-year-old opened the scoring from the spot 22 minutes into the game and added a second shortly after half-time as Iceland ran out 4-0 winners in Reykjavik.
The goals were Sigurdsson’s first for the national team since he scored in a 2-1 defeat against Hungary in the final of the Euro 2020 qualifier play-offs in November 2020.
The former Tottenham and Everton midfielder captained Iceland against Denmark in a Nations League fixture three days later in what would prove to be his last international appearance in three years.
The hiatus came to an end last week, when he won his 79th cap for the national side as he came on a substitute against Luxembourg to a rousing reception from the Iceland fans.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his first international goal in three years on Monday night
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‘It was hard not to hear, it was already in my warm-up and when I came in,’ he told Icelandic outlet Fotbolti.
‘I have never received such a reception here, it was an extra wild welcome.’
Sigurdsson’s international return comes just two months after he joined Danish Superliga side Lyngby, who are currently sixth in the table.
The midfielder had been without a club since being released by Everton at the end of the 2021-22 season following the expiration of his contract.
Sigurdsson’s last competitive game came during a 5-0 loss to Manchester City on the final day of the 2020-21 season, but Lyngby offered him a way back into the game.
Sigurdsson has made two appearances for Lyngby after signing a one-year deal and admitted being surprised by his swift return to international football.
The 34-year-old last played in the Premier League on the final day of the 2020-21 season
Sigurdsson signed for Danish Superliga club Lyngby in August and has made two appearances
‘I think with Lyngby I may have trained fully 10-14 times. It has gone quickly,’ he explained.
‘I know there is a long way to go and it will probably be a few months before I am in top form.’
Sigurdsson scored 67 goals in 318 Premier League appearances with Swansea, Tottenham and Everton and netted 18 times in 42 games in the Championship with Reading.
Iceland’s win over Liechtenstein consolidated their fourth spot in Group J and kept their faint chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 alive.