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5-star Aduriz gets international reward

Xinhua, November 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Athletic Club Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz was without doubt the star of Thursday's Europa League matches as the 35-year-old scored all five goals in his side's thrilling 5-3 win at home to Genk to give them three vital points in their qualifying group as well as earn him a personal reward on Friday.

Aduriz became the first Spanish played to score five goals in a single European match since Jose Antonio Zaldua scored five for FC Barcelona against Utrecht in the 1965-66 season and the first to score five for Athletic since Fidel Uriate netted five against Betis on December 31, 1967.

The veteran's goals on Thursday made him the club's top scorer in European competitions with 21 goals, while they also took him into the top-10 goalscorers in the history of the club with 131 in all competitions.

Aduriz's goals earned him the praise of his coach Ernesto Valverde, who commented after Thursday's game that it was the first time a player he had coached had scored five goals in a game.

"What's more he did it in Europe and in a vital match. We are all lucky to have seen it and to be able to say we were in the ground when it happened," added the Athletic Club coach.

The striker saw further recompense on Friday when Spain coach Julen Lopetegui recalled him to the 25-man squad he named for Spain's forthcoming internationals: a World Cup qualifier against Granada and a friendly against England in Wembley.

It means a return to the international fold after Aduriz had been left out of Lopetegui's first two squads, leading many to believe his international career was over.

Aduriz is not the only player to get a recall with Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata also included, as is Villarreal goalkeeper, Sergio Asenjo and defenders Marc Bartra and Cesar Azpilicueta, who will cover for the injured Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. Endit