‘Humble’ Roo can help lads
WAYNE ROONEY won’t just pass on a winning mentality to his new Everton teammates, but he’ll teach them all about humility too.
That’s according to David Unsworth, Rooney’s former Goodison Park team-mate and the man charged with bringing through the club’s next generation of young stars.
“It’s a fantastic signing,” he said. “A great signing on the pitch and off the pitch.
“Wayne’s a winner, he has done it all.
“He has captained his country, scored more goals than anybody else for his country, he has won everything for Manchester United.
“So it’s not just only our young players who will look up to him, but I’m sure our seasoned professionals will do as well.
“And what’s also important for our young lads to see is that he hasn’t changed with it all as well. The word is humble.
“He came to our office the other day and there was myself, Francis Jeffers and John Ebbrell.
“He gave us all a hug, sat down and was talking away. You wouldn’t realise his achievements if you’d been sat in that office, listening to that conversation.”
Unsworth, speaking at the Checkatrade Trophy draw, was a senior pro at Everton when Rooney first arrived on the scene.
He added: “I remember one of his early days when he was still at school and he came in to train with us.
“He wasn’t even 16 and me and David Weir were like, ‘Who is this kid?’.
“We couldn’t get near him. He was so fast and so hungry, and demanded the ball as well.
“That was when you first realised you had a superstar on your hands.”