Wayne Rooney describes goal from his own half as his best ever as he praises caretaker boss David Unsworth for stepping in to help Everton 'at a difficult time for the football club'

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Wayne Rooney described his wonder strike against West Ham as 'one of the best goals' of his career after a performance in which he rolled back the years.

With Sam Allardyce watching in the Directors Box as he prepares to be officially made Everton manager, Rooney lifted the gloom that had been hanging over Goodison Park with a stunning hat-trick, which he completed in the 66th of a 4-0 win over West Ham with an incredible shot from 54 metres.

It is the first hat-trick Rooney has scored for Everton – and his first in the Premier League since September 2011 – but it was the manner in which he performed from a deep-lying midfield position that will have impressed Allardyce.

Wayne Rooney spoke to BT Sport as scoring from 60 yards against West Ham on Wednesday

Rooney caught West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart off his line just after the hour

Rooney celebrates scoring his hat-trick as Ashley Williams and Jordan Pickford run to join him

Rooney's efforts ensured David Unsworth was able to sign off a difficult eight-match caretaker spell on a high – he now goes back to take charge of the Under-23s – and his captain for the night was anxious to recognise the club stalwart's efforts.

He said: 'I hit it as well as I've ever hit a football, it's my first hat trick for Everton and I'm absolutely delighted. For that to be the third goal of my first ever hat trick makes it really special. It's one of the best goals I've ever scored.

'The first goal (a penalty) was important. I have practised a lot of penalties against Joe Hart and I knew he knew which way I was going to go. I backed myself, he made the save but fortunately the bounce went for me. We played some really good stuff afterwards.

Rooney's stunning goal sparked wild celebration all around Goodison Park on Wednesday

'We have got to give a lot of thanks to David Unsworth – he's a true Everton person, now we have got to try and steady the ship.'

Unsworth was emotional at the final whistle after the Goodison Park crowd had chanted his nickname 'Rhino' repeatedly in the second half and he said: That was very special and I thank them for that. I've always had a wonderful affiliation with the Everton fans, a great relationship throughout my playing career and that was a nice personal moment. I thank them for that. It means the world, really does.

When we took over, the team were in the bottom three. To get us up the league to 13th is a step in the right direction. We've won a few games and we've managed to, in the league, get out of the bottom three which I think was important.

The former England international also didn't forget to thank caretaker boss David Unsworth

'We've had a lot games in a short space of time and it's been a tough six weeks but hopefully we've given the new manager and the new staff a platform to work on.'

West Ham manager David Moyes was furious with his side's display in the opening 45 minutes and said: 'The second half I could put my name to the performance, I didn't want to put my name to the first half that's for sure.

'We didn't perform in the first half so we didn't deserve anything from the game, that's certain. Small things went against us, though, Wayne missed his penalty, but he got the rebound, we missed ours and it didn't come back out.

'Do you know something, the focus for me (On Everton's penalty) wasn't on the goalkeeper, the focus was on the defenders, how we allowed the ball to be played right through. We could debate the penalty but if you give the ref the chance there's a good chance he'll give it.' 

Rooney slotted past Hart at the goalkeeper's far post for his second goal of the night