Wayne Rooney teaches you something different every day, insists Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard as he praises ex team-mate ahead of return

  • Wayne Rooney will return to Manchester United with Everton on Sunday
  • The Englishmen left United this summer in search of more game time
  • Jesse Lingard has conceded that Rooney taught his team-mates a lot
  • But Lingard believes Romelu Lukaku could prove to be his ideal replacement 

Jesse Lingard believes Manchester United's all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney will be welcomed back heartily when he returns to Old Trafford with Everton on Sunday.

This summer Rooney, 31, decided to end his decorated spell at Old Trafford in search of the sought-after game time that was becoming less frequent under United boss Jose Mourinho.

Rooney, who scored 253 goals in over 550 appearances for his former club, secured a move back to Everton and has impressed on his return to Goodison Park, even retiring from international football with England to focus on life with his boyhood club.

Jesse Lingard has praised former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney

Jesse Lingard has praised former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney

Rooney joined boyhood club Everton in the summer and  returns to Old Trafford on Sunday

Rooney joined boyhood club Everton in the summer and returns to Old Trafford on Sunday

The forward returns to Old Trafford for the first time this Sunday - a day before facing a charge of drink driving at Stockport Magistrates' Court - and Lingard is thankful he could call him a team-mate.


'His experience in games, especially when you're young,' Lingard said. 'If it's only 1-0 it's always hard to manage a game, and he knew what to do at times, especially towards the end of games.

'You learn every day from him. Of course (it is hard to follow him), he's always going to be recognised as a legend at the club and he'll get a great reception when he comes back.

Lingard has spoken out about Rooney's knowledge saying he learned something every day

Lingard has spoken out about Rooney's knowledge saying he learned something every day

'Obviously he was there as a young boy and he thought it was the right decision at the time.

'Yeah, you could say that (he has unfinished business). But now Romelu (Lukaku) has come in and obviously we're focused on playing with him now.'

While it was not part of the deal that took Rooney home, Lukaku headed the other way down the M62.

Three exceptional seasons in blue led United to fork out an initial £75million to bring the Belgium international to Old Trafford from under the noses of former club Chelsea.

Lukaku has seamlessly slotted into the United team, taking his tally to six goals in as many games by netting in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League win against Basle.

But has also said new striker Romelu Lukaku has what it takes to be the new star man at United

But has also said new striker Romelu Lukaku has what it takes to be the new star man at United

Rooney's United career

Appearances: 559

Goals: 253

Assists: 145

Honours: Premier League (5), FA Cup (1), League Cup (4), Champions League (1), FIFA Club World Cup (1)

Advertisement

When asked if he was surprised by Lukaku's impact, Lingard said: 'No. I think you've seen last year what he's capable of and what he did for Everton - he scored a lot of goals - and now he's carrying that form on which is great for us.

'He holds the ball up well, he runs in behind which gives the guy on the ball another option. He's very strong in the box, he's very good with his head, so he gives a lot of options for the man on the ball.'

Asked if Lukaku has the potential to be the kind of figure Rooney was for United, Lingard said: 'I think Rom's a really nice guy, he's got his feet on the ground and he doesn't let anything faze him. As long as he keeps scoring the goals he's going to make the headlines.'

Lingard has had precious few opportunities to make a name for himself this term with the UEFA Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid his only start, and the four coming off the bench in the following four, with one eye fixed on the World Cup in Russia.

'There's a lot of games, especially this month, so you're always going to get your chance,' Lingard said. 'I've just got to be patient and when you come on the field you want to make a difference.

'You learn a lot and you want to keep training hard and like I said you will get your chance, it's all about taking it.'