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Wayne Rooney to get better and improve Everton, says Tony Cottee

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the opening goal for Everton with team-mate Sandro Ramirez
Image: Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring his winning goal with team-mates

Former Everton and England forward Tony Cottee says there is "a lot more to come" from Wayne Rooney after his match-winning display against Stoke.

Lifting three trophies at Manchester United last season was not enough to satisfy the 31-year-old, whose frustration at a lack of regular first-team football grew under Jose Mourinho.

Rooney took the early-summer decision to leave Old Trafford after 13 years and rejoin his boyhood club Everton, who he inspired to a 1-0 victory over the Stoke in his first Premier League appearance for the club in 4,837 days.

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Rooney inspires Everton to victory against Stoke

The veteran striker nodded home at the end of a fine team move in first half injury-time before celebrating wildly in front of the Goodison fans.

"Fantastic," Cottee told Sky Sports of Rooney's performance on Saturday. "I experienced it myself. I left West Ham, went to Everton, back to West Ham.

"When you go back for that second spell you always wonder what reception you'll get. How's it going to be, a lot's changed. Thirteen years for Wayne but there's probably a lot of things that are still the same.

"I think (it's) a fantastic header from him.

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Former Everton striker Tony Cottee says there is still a lot more to come from Rooney

"I keep talking about keeping the pressure off. First game of the season, you get your goal, it settles everyone down.

"You go losing games, you haven't scored. Everyone's moaning 'we've taken Wayne Rooney back'. They're not moaning now.

"It's a fantastic debut for him. I'm really pleased. He's still got a lot to offer and you forget how young he is. There's a lot more to come from Wayne Rooney."

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