The former Toffees striker scored on his return to Goodison Park with the Canaries.
Norwich City striker Steven Naismith has told the club’s official Youtube channel the Everton fans’ reaction to his goal ‘sums them up as a club’.
Naismith, who left the Toffees for Norwich in an £8 million deal in January, returned to haunt his old side in Tuesday’s EFL Cup encounter, opening the scoring in 2-0 win at Goodison Park.
But rather than boo their former player, as is commonplace in such a situation, his goal was instead greeted by applause from the Everton faithful.
“The reaction afterwards sums Everton up as a club. It’s a fantastic club with special people at it. I had some fantastic times here and that was a lovely send off,” Naismith told Norwich’s official Youtube channel.
“They’re more than just fans. They’ve helped you in your career and you’ve celebrated some of the best moments in your career with them.
“It is a strange situation but for them to start applauding me was a very special moment and it’s probably one of the moments I’ll look back at when I’m finished.”
Naismith has struggled for form since the Canaries’ relegation from the Premier League last season, and had not appeared in any of Alex Neil’s last three matchday squads ahead of the trip to Merseyside.
However, the 30-year-old, who had previously scored one goal in five appearances this season, staked his claim for a regular starting berth with his second of the campaign shortly before the break, before Josh Murphy doubled the visitors’ advantage with 16 minutes remaining.
Naismith, who arrived at Everton from Rangers in July 2012, scored 26 goals in three-and-a-half seasons at Goodison Park.
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