ROONEY LIFT FOR KOEMAN

Wayne to toughen ’em up

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WAYNE ROONEY is set to be recalled as under-fire Everton boss Ronald Koeman attempts to solve a crisis of confidence in his squad.

Rooney was left on the bench by Koeman for Everton’s 1-0 defeat by Burnley last time out.

That result left Everton just two points above the relegation zone with seven points from as many fixtures.

But the Toffees boss will turn to Rooney tomorrow at Brighton to give his side greater mental strength.

Koeman (below) said: “I saw the reactions of the players when Burnley scored the goal and it was ‘s**t, again’.

“They are doubting, mentally – it’s difficult when out of one chance, they score a goal.

“Of course it’s the time for all the experienced players. Wayne’s always in my thoughts. “It’s for everybody who starts to be a team and get a good result. In that team there are experienced players who can deal with more pressure.

“The Burnley game was a different system. We had two strikers and you need to make hard decisions in positions behind the strikers.” Koeman will not take defender Ashley Williams out of the firing line despite a nightmare few weeks for club and country.

Williams has struggled for Everton and made a decisive mistake in Wales’ 1-0 defeat by Republic of Ireland which ended their World Cup dreams.

“Of course he is one of the players who is finding it really difficult at the moment,” said Koeman. “Maybe they have punished him with goals when he’s made a mistake.

“He’s trying to find his confidence. If you have doubts in football it makes it more difficult. We need to help him.”

Koeman has ruled himself out of contention for the Holland job.

The Dutch failed to reach their second successive major tournament after finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group.

“No way,” Koeman said, when asked if he would like the job. “I am not surprised they put my name in because they did the same some years ago. But I am Everton manager. That’s the most important thing and nothing else.”