EVER SO
An emotional night for Rooney and the fans as 40,000 at Goodison get set to welcome home a True Blue
IT says much about the pulling power of Wayne Rooney that Everton can draw a sell-out crowd against opponents not just unknown, but unpronounceable.
He will make an emotional return against Ruzomberok at Goodison tonight, his first competitive game in a Toffees shirt in 13 long years of love and loathing.
The loathing was the response of Everton fans when he left and then - shockingly - kissed the Manchester United badge.
But the love has always been there, running deep, because Rooney is a true Blue.
That much was evident at Howard Kendall’s funeral. On a raw day for all associated with Everton, he turned up, despite having played for United the night before.
In conversation with another true Blue, Bill Kenwright, whose smart transfer-market business brought Rooney home, the England star explained in simple terms why he was there to pay his respects: “Because it is my club, Mr Chairman.”
Kenwright knows that, and the fans who will pack Goodison tonight for a Europa League qualifier against the Slovakian minnows know that too. That is why they are there.
As does boss Ronald Koeman, which is why he has not bothered to make Rooney his captain, even though he knows the experience and professionalism at the summit of the game makes him such a natural leader.
Koeman has confirmed Phil Jagielka remains skipper, Gareth Barry his deputy, and Leighton Baines – likely to be given the job tonight – third in line.
“Even without the armband he is one of the captains in the team, because that’s what he is used to doing,” said Koeman.
“There were no reasons to change the captain because I’m really happy with Phil and with Gareth and with Leighton. I’ll leave it like this.
“Wayne is a captain on the pitch, he’s a captain off the pitch and doesn’t need the name of captain because he’s that type of player who is always involved in making players better and involved in communication on the pitch.”
Rooney, 31, has insisted he did not return to Everton to go into semi retirement but to help fulfil his dream of lifting a trophy for the club he passionately supported as a kid. And England boss Gareth Southgate suggested that could revive his England career, a view Koeman shares. “First of all, if you play really good football and produce great performances for your club it’s possible to come back to the national team,” said the Dutchman. “But it always starts with the club. Then it’s reasonable he will go back to the national team.” There are those who have questioned whether Rooney was a business signing, there as much to sell shirts and attract fans as to play a central role in the team. But Koeman sees the experience he brings as a serial winner at the very top as being a vital ingredient in his tasty mix of youth and quality, and believes Rooney will play a key role if managed properly.
“That is the first reason to have a really strong squad to deal with, hopefully, all the competitions,” he said.
“He is showing good fitness, he has a little groin problem after the weekend in Belgium, but is fit to start. With Wayne, and maybe some other players, we need to keep them fresh.
“And if you have really good competition you can do a little bit of rotation – but not a lot because I don’t like that.
“But you can protect players if you have a lot of games in a short period.”
For the moment though, Rooney is very much the main attraction – as close to 40,000 Blues will testify on an emotional Thursday evening in late July.