Man Utd News: Jose Mourinho calls for Wayne Rooney support and hints at Everton title bid

JOSE MOURINHO hopes Wayne Rooney will get the reception he deserves when he makes his first return to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Man Utd news Wayne Rooney EvertonGETTY

Everton's Wayne Rooney will face his former side Manchester United on Sunday

And Mourinho says that Rooney is a true Manchester Inited legend in an era when legendary status is handed out far too easily.

He said: "I think that he will get the welcome he deserves. Sometimes  the word legend in this country comes too easy, that's not his case, he's a real legend, the number of goals, trophies, he's clearly one of the most important players in Manchester United's history.

"And I think the stadium will show him that respect he deserves - I hope before the match and after the match - but not during the match."

Mourinho refused to say whether re-joining Everton in the summer was the best move for Rooney's career.

He added: "He is an Everton player and I'm not going to speak about Wayne more than I have already.

"He's a legend of this club, he deserves to be welcomed that way but during the match he's an Everton player who wants to win the match."

They are a team that wants to play for the title

Mourinho on Everton

Mourinho was more forthcoming about the striker who moved in the opposite direction to replace Rooney - Romelu Lukaku who has hit the ground running with six goals in his first six games for United plus four for Belgium.

He said: "I think he has come in the right moment, at a good age, with a good number of years of experience with different clubs in the Premier League.

"He is clearly a player well adapted  to the Premier League and with good friends already in this dressing room, with an easy integration  into our group.

"And the way the team tries to play has good relation to his qualities as a player. He came at the right moment in his career."

Rooney will return with Everton in an early season mini crisis after three defeats without scoring a goal, five games in all competitions without a win and manager Ronald Koeman unhappy with their lack of passion.

Man Utd vs Everton Rooney MoutinhoGETTY

Jose Mourinho and Wayne Rooney (right) celebrate winning the Europa League last season

But Mourinho will not under estimate the Merseysiders who held United to two 1-1 draws last season.

"I'm not going to analyse in that perspective, " he said.

"They are a team with an incredible investment, a team that wants to play for the title, so I'm sure their objective is the top four.

"They have lots of good players, they are a good team and it will be a very difficult match for us."

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