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Phil Jagielka says Wayne Rooney is thriving on the pressure of Everton return

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Everton captain Phil Jagielka believes Wayne Rooney is thriving under the pressure following his return to Goodison Park earlier this summer

Wayne Rooney is thriving on the pressure of being back at Goodison Park, according to Everton captain Phil Jagielka.

Rooney returned to Merseyside earlier this summer after spending 13 years at Manchester United but has made an immediate impact, scoring in both of Everton's opening Premier League games.

Despite having little left to prove, Jagielka believes the striker choosing Everton demonstrates his ambition still remains while more lucrative propositions loomed elsewhere.

Everton's English striker Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Stoke City
Image: Wayne Rooney has made an immediate impact back at Everton, scoring two goals in the side's two opening Premier League games

"He could've gone somewhere else and tripled his wages in different leagues, but he wanted to come back" Jagielka told Sky Sports News.

"He had nothing to prove to us. I knew he was still a very good player, it was just a case of him coming here and settling in and he's done that."

Rooney, who scored 183 Premier League goals during his time at Old Trafford, arrived back at Everton under pressure following a disappointing final campaign at Manchester United last season.

The forward scored just eight times in 43 appearances and was now faced with filling the void left by Romelu Lukaku, who joined Jose Mourinho's side as part of his deal.

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Wayne Rooney
Image: The 31-year old returned to Everton earlier this summer

However, Jagielka feels Rooney has relished in the position and is confident England's all-time leading scorer will continue his early form for Everton throughout the remainder of the season.

"A lot of people these days, if they're not happy, they want to leave and throw in transfer requests and chase something else," he added.

"Wayne's obviously done the opposite this time and decided to come home and put more pressure on himself coming to his boyhood club where his friends and family go each week, but that's what he thrives on."

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