In dire need of Rooney
LIVERPOOL: Everton manager David Moyes is hoping for teenage sensation Wayne Rooney to get over his injury woes to help the Toffees' overcome their sticky start to the new Premiership season.
Moyes, who has been buoyed by news about the England striker's progress from a broken bone in his foot picked up during the Euro 2004, saw Everton punished 4-1 at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
Without Rooney – one of the true sensations of the European Championships in Portugal – Everton look destined to another season battling the drop.
The possibility of a swift return by Rooney seems the one ray of hope for beleaguered Scot Moyes.
As he reflected on his team's summary dismissal by the Gunners, Moyes gave a cautious reaction to reports that Rooney is making good progress.
“I don't know whether he will be fit or not (for England's autumn World Cup qualifiers). I hope he is because that means he will be fit for us,” said the Goodison boss.
“He will probably start jogging in a week, but it might take him longer. We can't put any time on it.”
In the meantime, Moyes must find a way of rebuilding some confidence after Sunday's mauling as Everton try to get by without Rooney and confound those who already believe they are doomed to an unequal struggle to stay in the top flight.
He is not about to start, though, by making excuses for his men who were outclassed by the Londoners on day one.
“We played a very good team,” he told his club's official website, evertonfc.com.
“I don't think there is any question; the better team won, so that's about it.”
Moyes nonetheless had no qualms about the industry of his side who kept their heads above water last season principally by digging deep when they had to.
“I wasn't disappointed by the players' effort,” he said.
“I think it was excellent, as it has been for the entirety of the pre-season - and I can't ask for any more than that.”
Even so, Moyes felt Everton's last-ditch defending might have been more effective.
“I was disappointed that one or two of them didn't put their foot in at the right time. They could have blocked crosses and maybe could have made a difference,” he said.
“But overall, they did fine.”
It was hardly a surprise, the manager admitted, to discover what Everton were up against as top-quality Arsenal launched wave after wave of fluent attacks.
“We knew how hard it was going to be. We wanted to work hard and stop them playing the best we could,” he said.
“The players were ready for it and prepared. But when you work hard to close them down they move and change position – and if you give them time they pick you off.” – AFP
News Poll
- Liow under fire over Net clip
- Powerful explosion rips through restaurant
- Singapore aircraft not a worry
- A near miss for six Indonesian cleaners living upstairs
- It is a childish act to ‘step on’ us, say ex-PKR reps
- Anwar fails to strike out sodomy charge
- Police detain 28 Chinese nationals at karaoke joint
- BTN to change curriculum because not in line with 1Malaysia
- Several firsts at Lima this year
- No plans for PM to meet Chin Peng
- Astro’s apathy putting customers’ lives in danger
- Dead-end on Jln Tanjung issue
- Powerful explosion rips through restaurant
- Weak quake felt in Kuala Pilah
- Liow under fire over Net clip
- Police detain 28 Chinese nationals at karaoke joint
- Muhyiddin: MCA leaders receptive to proposals
- Ex-Miss Argentina dies after cosmetic surgery
- Handphones now have blue films with bluetooth
- BTN to change curriculum because not in line with 1Malaysia
RSS
