Jagielka predicts tough game for Rooney
Everton defender Phil Jagielka is predicting a very tough game for Rooney this weekend as Manchester United travel to Goodison Park.
Rooney started his Premier League life at Everton before making a £25.6 million move to Manchester United. Rooney said he would never leave Everton while he was at the club and Everton's fans routinely boo the striker in this fixture each season.
Jagielka said: "It should be amusing. On Merseyside Wayne always gets a little bit of stick and I'll be giving him a little bit as well if he plays on Saturday. I've spoken to him about it. All the boys in the England squad know who is playing who. It is always interesting playing against people you've just been away with in the week."
Rooney will also receive additional abuse from Everton fans because of the recent revelations in his personal life. Jagielka says it could all get to the striker and this will take a weight off the mind of the Everton defence.
However, Rooney is no longer a Premier League new boy and he will be determined to silence the home crowd. Sir Alex Ferguson will also play a large part in how the striker prepares for the game.
Skill and experience
Rooney is a player that often gets verbal abuse at most away grounds Manchester United play at. He is experienced enough to cope with the fans and not allow it to have an impact on his game.
Rooney bagged a much needed goal during England's 3-1 over Switzerland on Tuesday night and this will give the striker a lot of confidence. It should ensure that he's ready to hit the ground running this weekend and it could be the game Rooney chooses to score two or three.
The striker is a high profile individual. He will expect a lot of abuse from Everton's fans. It would be very naive of Rooney to approach the game thinking that he'll have an easy time, particularly with tabloid reports indicating he cheated on his wife with a prostitute while she was pregnant.
The manager
Sir Alex Ferguson is into his third decade as Manchester United's manager. During this time he would have learned about when it's the right time to step in and make sure a player is mentally okay before a big game.
This ensures that Rooney will be in the right frame of mind to play against Everton. It also ensures that United will set-up in a very attacking manner for the game, which is the opposite that Everton will be hoping for.
Jagielka added: "There is a good chance he will get slaughtered. He normally gets quite a bit of stick anyway. I can't see that changing come Saturday. I am sure Wayne can deal with it. He is a tough lad and he will let his football do the talking. I will enjoy the battle against him. I like playing against good players and Wayne is definitely a good player."
Betting advice
Manchester United has not always enjoyed the best record when travelling to Goodison Park. It could be a very tight game and the best option is to wait until the match has started before betting. This will let you see if United is controlling the middle areas of the pitch or whether Everton have brought their best game for the occasion.
Have a punt on Rooney scoring during the game. His goal for England will give him confidence and he will be busting a gut to silence the Everton crowd who will jump at any excuse to boo their former hero. This entrenched determination often means a player will raise his game dramatically in order to score.
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