Everton Manager: David Moyes: Wayne Rooney Getting Close To World's Best

Scot full of praise for former player.

Everton manager David Moyes has heaped praise on returning star Wayne Rooney ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Saturday, saying he is now close to the best players in world football.

Rooney returns to the club he left in the summer of 2004 with the Red Devils as he enjoys the best goal-scoring form of his career to date.


After scoring a clinical San Siro double against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, the 24-year-old now has 25 goals in all competitions and is receiving plaudits from all corners of the footballing world.

However, a frosty reception is likely to be in store for Rooney when he takes to the field at Goodison Park, with the majority of Toffees fans yet to forgive the striker for the manner of his exit and the subsequent criticisms of Moyes and Everton in his autobiography.

Former Preston North End boss Moyes was full of praise for his former player ahead of the weekend’s game, though, saying it is only a matter of time before he is likely to be considered alongside the best players in the world.

“I think Wayne is a top player and I think he is going to be a great player,” Moyes is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"He has added goals to his game and understanding - all the things you would expect from a maturing player.

"I think time will be the test of whether he becomes the best in the world but he is certainly getting very close to it."

The Scot added that Rooney has since apologised for the derogatory remarks made in his book, where Moyes was branded an ‘overbearing’ presence.

“All credit to Wayne, he rang me to apologise about a year ago for all the things he wrote in his book,” said Moyes.

“That was something that made me realise he was a maturing man. He realised what he had been given at Everton was great and his development and what we tried to do was right.

“All in all, I think Wayne would probably look back on his time at Everton as being good.

“We probably weren't ready for Wayne Rooney at the time. I think we would be more ready now.”