Sunday People

He’s got ability..& humility

- Tom Hopkinson

WAYNE ROONEY won’t just pass on a winning mentality to his new Everton teammates, 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 stars.

“Wayne’s a winner, he has done it all,” said Unsworth.

“He has captained his country, scored more goals than anybody else for his country, and he has won everything for Manchester United.

“So it’s not just only our young players who will look up to him, 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. 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, who was speaking at the Checkatrad­e Trophy draw, was a senior pro at Everton when Rooney first arrived on the scene.

He added: “I used to pick him up every morning – in the car rather than on the pitch after I’d kicked him.

“Well, I did that as well if I could get near him.

“I remember one of his early days when he was still at school and he came in and trained 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.”

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