Ayoze Perez admits he has to pinch himself when he looks at Newcastle United's all-time Premier League top scorer list these days.
He now proudly sits in ninth place with 31 Premier League goals to his name with his hat-trick taking past Demba Ba, Obafemi Martins and Gary Speed.
Perez is also just four short of reaching a half-century of goals in total for the club in all competitions.
With Perez still clutching the match ball, he told the Chronicle: "The main thing is to win – we’ve done it – it means a lot.
"I still have to go home, think about it – and realise I’m in the top-ten (NUFC Premier League goal scorers) list.
"Because it means a lot at such a big club."
Perez cost United a bargain £1.6million from Tenerife in 2014 and has exceeded everybody's expectations - including his own.
He said: "I couldn’t imagine I was going to achieve it, when I signed.
"And I’m in there. So, it means a lot.
"What I know is: I’m feeling very good, very fit, on the pitch.
"Helping the team, with goals, for a striker is the main thing, the main target, and that’s it. I don’t think much about anything else.
"I’m always going to be happy to be able to score even more in front of the fans at St James’ Park.
"And against Southampton is a day I won’t forget; I won’t forget, because it’s very special."
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