UK Edition
Everton 1 Stoke City 0: Wayne Rooney scores winner on his second coming at Goodison Park
Wayne Rooney has won five league titles, broken goalscoring records for club and country and lifted the Champions League.
Yet when the time comes for him to reminisce about a decorated career, it is conceivable he will recall the goal scored on his second Premier League debut for Everton as his most emotional.
It was in the 45th minute of a fixture meandering towards half-time when Rooney shifted the mood and momentum, heading past Stoke’s Jack Butland, sliding to his knees and looking skywards to thank a greater power. This encapsulated why Rooney has come back to Goodison Park – a goal that means so much more because it is shared with his people. There has been a 13-year gap between Rooney’s 17th and 18th goal for this club and he will surely savour and appreciate this more than any of those he struck as a teenager.
There was no gimmicky, pre-meditated ‘once a blue, always a blue’ T-shirt unveiling on this occasion– just the sincere delight at the first serious validation of his return.
Not since April 13, 2004 – a 1-1 away draw at Leeds United – has Rooney felt this joy among boyhood friends.
“A winning goal at Goodison is a special moment,” said Rooney. “To play for this football club is huge deal for me and to score the first goal back in the Premier League – and for it to be the winning goal – it does not get much better.”
Rooney evidently likes playing Stoke. He broke Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United goal record against the same opponents. This strike was especially well-timed as Everton were searching for ideas and inspiration prior to Rooney’s intervention.
There was as much to concern as satisfy as Ronald Koeman’s new-look side lacked balance and dynamism in the first half, Everton’s midfield packed with players of similar qualities of diligence but lacking pace and creativity.
For all the scepticism regarding Rooney’s current powers, he demonstrated his enduring capacity to change and define games. It is the rarest and most precious of commodities in a footballer, and one too often overlooked during the course of his career.
Rooney struck with his first and only chance after 44 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin – who started as a wing-back – crossed from the right, and Rooney was free to pick his spot with an expertly-guided header.
Aside from a couple of shots from distance by Idrissa Gueye, it was the first time Butland had been occupied.Yet, from there, Rooney and Everton’s confidence swelled.
“There was one player in an Everton shirt today who was from the first second to the last comfortable on the pitch,” said Koeman of Rooney.
“Every decision he made was the right one and he scored a great goal from a great cross from Dominic. In difficult moments, he showed his experience. That is why we signed Wayne, expecting to show his team-mates all that experience and it was really important.”
Mark Hughes, the Stoke manager, added: “He was always going to be part of the story today. That was always the worry.”
There is no doubt Everton’s West End-producing chairman Bill Kenwright – who lobbied so hard for Rooney’s return – knows a perfect script when he sees one. He must have considered the stage direction perfect. Rooney’s Everton sequel has started encouragingly enough to suggest those predicting a flop spoke prematurely.