Rooney seems to be the innocent victim of bigger issues at Goodsion Park

his position was moved around all the time and the stuff in the background – which looks a mess to me – got worse and worse.

He’s suffered from that more than most, and I can understand him thinking that, if nothing changes, he will have to look at other clubs, because he can’t go on like this.

Of course, he knows he is not the player he was, but in his mind he will also be thinking he can still do it at Premier League level.

He has proven that. He has been better than players who cost a lot more than him.

Genuinely, no matter what the fans are saying, inside his head he will believe he can easily play on at Everton for another year or two.

Yet Allardyce doesn’t appear to think that and it seems that the owner of the club is starting to look at his wages and his contribution.

Rooney doesn’t need that, which is why he is probably looking at the States and talking to DC United.

I followed a similar route to Australia, which had a similar level of football back then to the MLS. I was a couple of years older than he is now, though, and I think that would be a major difference.

I enjoyed my time in Australia in North Queensland and Perth, but it’s tough. Without any disrespect to any team-mates, of course, it’s a different level and it’s quite tough mentally to get used to that.

You are stepping down a level, but you are still going as a pro and you still want to be as professional as possible.

But, of course, you can only be as good as your team.

With Rooney, after a decade at Manchester United, that will be tough.

I’ve spoken to Steven Gerrard about his time in the States, and he says anyone going there for an easy life is in for a shock, because, even if the quality is not there, the fitness levels, the competitiveness is and you are targeted too.

I’m not sure whether, at 32, Wayne is ready for all that. Ideally, he would do another year at Everton and bring his experience to what surely has to be a season of rebuilding.

But that all depends what is going on behind the scenes.

I don’t know Farhad Moshiri (left), but, after years and years of stability at the club, with one manager and a lot of consistency, they look all over the place now he’s in charge.

I wonder if he’s still learning about football and if he’s getting the right advice?

I honestly don’t know what is happening there, but, as an ex-player, I can tell you a lot of what happens at football clubs depends on what is going on behind the scenes.

If it’s not right, then it does affect what happens on the pitch.

Rooney seems to be a fairly innocent victim of that. In a better team, I think he would still offer something.

I hope Everton can sort out their problems and allow him the dignity his position as one of the best of his generation deserves.