Wayne Rooney could trip himself up by trying 'too hard', says Stoke boss Mark Hughes ahead of Premier League opener against Everton

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Mark Hughes believes Wayne Rooney runs the risk of tripping himself up if he tries too hard on his first Premier League start back at Everton and hopes Stoke can capitalise on any sentimentality from the stands.

Stoke travel to Goodison Park for what promises to be an emotional game for Rooney and Hughes has told his players to ignore whatever fanfare might accompany the 31-year-old's return to his boyhood club.

Hughes is familiar with the experience of making a second debut, having rejoined Manchester United in 1988 after a two-year hiatus.

Mark Hughes believes Wayne Rooney runs the risk of tripping himself up if he tries too hard

Hughes hopes Stoke can capitalise on any sentimentality from the Everton stands 

'You can try a little bit too hard initially, because you want to show everybody how much you've improved since you left,' said Hughes. 'Sometimes, you can trip yourself up, maybe. That's just a short-term thing. Long-term, he' s going to be fine, clearly.

'It's not an easy fixture under any circumstances. Wayne Rooney's playing in the Premier League for Everton for the first time in a long time. It's his boyhood club, so clearly there's going to be a lot of emotion and positivity round the game.

'We've just got to make sure we don't get wrapped up in that. We have to concentrate on what we do and hope they get a little bit enveloped by all the stuff that's happening on the periphery. 

'Maybe we can capitalise on that.' Hughes accepted that Rooney's professional pride may have been hit by his departure from United after 13 years, having slipped out of the team under Jose Mourinho and been dropped by England.

The 31-year-old will be eager to impress on his return to his boyhood club

'I was 31 when I was allowed to leave United, and I still felt I had more to offer. If I'm honest I probably resented that,' admitted Hughes. 'So maybe Wayne will have those feeling I had, although I can't speak for him. 

'Maybe his pride has been pricked somewhat. 'You can use it as a motivating factor. They say when you leave United your career goes downhill but when I left I went to Chelsea and won three trophies in three years. It's how you approach it.

'If you accept that you're finished at the top level and you just coast to retirement then you won't achieve anything but if you have the mindset that you still have more to offer, which I'm sure is how Wayne is feeling, then you can go on to good things and enjoy yourself just as much.'