The burly Belgian striker, 24, has got to “Man up” and be strong in the head as well as the body to be a big hit at Old Trafford following his £100m move down the M62.

Rooney speaks from huge experience after winning 16 trophies during his 13 years of taking centre stage at the Theatre of Dreams. They included five Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and three League Cups to underline the massive impact Rooney made after his switch from Merseyside.

Now he has returned to his boyhood club Everton and is well placed to look back and pass on any valuable tips on how to follow in his footsteps.

He said: “Playing for Manchester United is a test of character as well as your ability.

“You have got to be strong enough mentally to accept the challenge.

“United are a club which demands success. Romelu has to be strong enough to take up that challenge. If he does that, then with the ability he’s got he will be a success.

“If he doesn’t face the challenge, if he worries about things, then it will be more difficult for him.

“He has got people there who will give him the right guidance and get the best out of him.”

Rooney will be forever grateful for the guidance he was given at OT. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson never let him forget the high standards to be met as a Manchester United player and Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were always around to dish out nuggets of advice.

Rooney added: “There are standards that you have to keep when you are at Manchester United. That came from Sir Alex and was passed down through the dressing room by the likes of Giggsy, Gary and Scholesey.

“Over the last few years it was down to me and Michael Carrick to keep the new players maintaining standards.

“That has been more difficult over the last few years with some of the players who joined the club.

“It’s become harder but that’s not my problem anymore. I’m just ecstatic to be back at Everton.

“I need to get in the dressing room and learn about the players here at Everton. I think we’ve got a good group. I’ve played with a few of the lads at club and international level.

"There are also some young lads. It’s a good mix and I’ll be trying to help the young lads to get the best out of them.”

Rooney’s second coming at Goodison is, as he says, not an entry into a retirement home. He is at Everton to work his blue socks off and hopefully become a winner at the club he has loved from being a toddler.

He could easily have opted to pick up rich pickings at United from the bench and could have landed a bigger wage packet than his current £125,000 with offers from other clubs. But money is not his master.

Rooney said: “I’m the same person – I haven’t changed into someone else. I’m still that street footballer. To be honest it would have been easy for me to sit at United on the bench, pick up the money and see you later but I am not that kind of person.

“I could have got more money at different clubs but I need to play. I need the challenge. I don’t just want to play and not care whether you win a trophy or not.

“I want to try and be successful. Ronald Koeman and the club have shown me that ambition about where they want to go to and it was perfect for me to come back.

“There will be a lot of pressure for me to come back here and perform. I know that – and I’m ready for that. It’s the perfect club for me to come to.”