Fabregas 1st Spaniard to make 300 Premier League appearances

Among Spanish footballers to lace up their boots in the Premier League, Cesc Fabregas stands alone.

The Chelsea midfielder, 29, became the first Spaniard in league history to hit the 300-match plateau on Saturday, reaching the milestone by getting the start in the Blues' clash with Swansea City.

Of the achievement, Fabregas said: "It feels like I have been playing for a long time!"

"I was away for three years but to have 300 Premier League games would be something fantastic for me, and hopefully 300 more.

"I just want to keep going, I want to keep playing for a very long time. I feel fit, fresh, I feel very young. Mentally and physically I feel like a young player. I think I can give more."

Fabregas, who made his Premier League debut with Arsenal as a 17-year-old in 2004, spent seven years with the Gunners, establishing himself as one of the planet's most cerebral midfielders before heading back to Barcelona for a three-year sojourn.

He made the switch to Chelsea in 2014, with Saturday's contest signalling his 88th appearance for the west London side.

"All my life I have had to work hard. I don't believe that if sometimes you are not playing you have to work harder. It doesn't work like that. Sometimes you play and someone is pushing you and you have to work on the pitch.

"Maybe the role has changed in terms of keeping my place on the pitch. I have to push myself harder in training to be on the pitch. But the meaning is the same - you have to always push yourself to be better."

Pepe Reina, now at Napoli, sits second on the Premier League's list of most-capped Spaniards (285); Manchester City wizard David Silva is second among active players, with 209 appearances to his name.