SPECIAL Rooney has everything to play for
and fitness at Goodison Park tonight. But after amassing 119 caps and 53 goals for his country to date, Rooney may yet add to those impressive tallies if Southgate’s comments are to be believed. “The great thing for Rooney is that he will probably be playing more regular football, so it’s as simple as that,” said Southgate. Despite the modest status of tonight’s opposition, the enthusiasm among Everton supporters has never been higher, at least in the Premier League era. After selling 25-goal Romelu Lukaku, who made the opposite journey to Rooney, Koeman and Everton have been lauded for their canny transfer business. Former Ajax schemer Davy Klaassen, highly rated forward Sandro Ramirez, keeper Jordan Pickford, centrehalf Michael Keane and former Southampton defender Cuco Martina have all strengthened Koeman’s squad, with three other players – including Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson in his sights.
That enthusiasm meant tonight’s fixture sold out earlier this week – albeit at a reduced capacity of about 34,500 – and there is – little doubt Rooney’s impact is already being felt, at least off the field.
“Even without the captaincy he is one of the captains in the team because that’s what he is used to doing,” said Koeman, who confirmed Phil Jagielka remains the club skipper.
“He doesn’t need the name of ‘captain’ because he’s that type of player who is always involved in making players better and who is involved in the communications on the pitch.
“First of all there is the quality of the player, the confidence I see in his football. And what I really like is his ambition in training. He shows the young lads in the team his experience and explains things, decisions about football, about positions.
“He’s a big player in English football and all the young players know all about Wayne Rooney.”
Rooney tasted success in last season’s Europa League, making a substitute appearance in the final as Manchester United defeated Klaassen’s young Ajax side.
Taking part this year in the exhausting European competition forced Koeman to look for quantity as well as quality in the current transfer window and he believes he now has a squad to compete on all fronts.
“We need a squad of 25-26 and let’s hope we have difficulties about the schedule and number of games because that’s what we want,” he said. “We want to be successful in Europe and have the number of games that brings.”