Leighton Baines set for major Everton milestone against Sunderland

By nearly any measure, Leighton Baines is a Goodison Park hero, and he is set to further cement that status this weekend with a presumed start against Sunderland. The match will mark his 300th appearance for Everton in the Premier League, a number that of Everton players still active in football, only Tim Howard can surpass with 354.

The left back has amassed 27 goals and 54 assists in that time, a stunning mark for a defender. An England international with 30 caps, Baines has been a regular for Everton on penalty duty as well as set pieces.

Speaking about his achievement, he said -

“It's pretty amazing to go from playing on the streets and knocking about with your mates in Sunday League and all the things I see young kids doing and my kids doing to get to this position. So it's nice, but I try not to think too much about it."

Manager Ronald Koeman chimed in with praise for Baines.

“He’s really important. It’s always a difficult position in the team, the left full-back position. Not all the teams have the real top quality in that position - there are some right-footed players.

“We are really lucky to have Leighton at a good level and at good fitness. He’s been one of the best players in the last few games.”

Along with Gareth Barry, Baines has been one of the first choices to fill in at captain as the aging Phil Jagielka is finding himself on the fringes of the squad.

“I like him as a player and as a person as well. He’s really disciplined in the team and is involved in everything with Everton.

“He is important for younger players. He’s that professional player you want in the team as a manager.”

No matter the result on the pitch Saturday, one thing will be worth celebrating for Everton fans, and that’s the career of Everton legend (and Fifth Beatle) Leighton Baines.

Here’s a look at the fullback over the years -

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• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match betweeen Derby County and Everton at Pride Park on October 28, 2007 in Derby, England. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park on December 28, 2008 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton on the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Goodison Park on December 28, 2009 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at White Hart Lane on October 23, 2010 in London, England. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the pre season friendly match between Everton and Villarreal at Goodison Park on August 5, 2011 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 28, 2012 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park on September 30, 2013 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Swansea City at Goodison Park on November 1, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton during their Capital One Cup Quarter Final at Riverside Stadium on December 1, 2015 in Middlesbrough, England. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton celebrates as he scores their first and equalising goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on December 4, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
• Leighton Baines of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on January 2, 2017 in Liverpool, England. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
• Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images