ALDERLEY.. ON THE EDGE
Everton tell Rooney: You are now on a final warning
EVERTON will insist Wayne Rooney is closely monitored during international breaks following his drunken night out last week.
The striker met manager Ronald Koeman yesterday for the first time since his arrest for drink-driving in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.
The Goodison boss is well aware the 31-year-old went off the rails during the break, when players were given time off to recharge their batteries.
Koeman will not allow that to happen again and Everton will review Rooney’s training regime for the rest of the season.
The Dutchman accepts Rooney deserves time off. The question is how to use it and this will be carefully scheduled. Rooney was given a final warning by Koeman during showdown talks.
The Blues boss is a strict disciplinarian and feels let down by Rooney because he warned him to behave before the club re-signed him from Manchester United in July.
An Everton insider said: “The view at the club is the best thing for Wayne now is to get back to full training and prepare for Saturday’s game against Spurs.
“He needs to get his head down and work. Hopefully he can get out on the pitch and maintain his goalscoring record.
“He’s clearly going through a tough time domestically. Playing again will probably help him. The crazy thing is that everybody here had been so impressed by his form and attitude since returning to Goodison Park. He had been brilliant until last week’s drinkdrive story broke. “Clearly the manager and his staff will be disappointed. There’s only one way for Wayne to show he’s let people here down – as wellas his wife and family – and that’s with his approach to training and playing.”
Koeman backed Rooney’s decision to retire from playing for England last month, hoping he would use the time off to recharge his batteries.
He was baffled when he heard Rooney was arrested after remaining at home on his own instead of using the international break to go on holiday with his pregnant wife Coleen and their children.
Koeman will not punish Rooney (together, left) for now as it is understood the club will wait until the case is concluded.
Rooney is due to appear before Stockport Magistrates Court on September 18.
The Blues do not want to prejudice Rooney’s defence by fining him two weeks’ wages.