Wayne Rooney secured a sentimental return to Everton from Manchester United this summer.
The November international break is a checkpoint which signals that we are roughly a third of the way through the season.
This is, in most cases, a long enough time for judgements to be made on the millions of pounds worth of summer signings.
Here we take a closer look at the Everton return of Wayne Rooney.
The former England captain left Manchester United after 13 years to get regular football again, and he has found that at his boyhood club – an ideal situation if you discount Everton’s results.
The Toffees have only just escaped the relegation zone under caretaker manager David Unsworth, having been tipped to challenge for a top-six spot after Ronald Koeman’s summer splurge.
Rooney has been among the goals, scoring four in 10 Premier League starts including the winner against Stoke and one in the draw with Manchester City, who have not dropped a point since.
However, Rooney’s stranglehold over the No.10 role means that marquee signing Gylfi Sigurdsson has largely been shafted, and Everton are badly missing the creativity and goals he could provide.
The 32-year-old’s form has been decent, but there is a feeling among some sections of Everton fans that the collective may be stronger without him, as there was in his later days with England.
Everton need more pace and dynamism in their attack. There is little excitement to them and, although Rooney is still technically excellent, he represents this staleness in the way that he slows the game down.
The Toffees will need to rely on Rooney’s goals and leadership to get them out of their current mess, but the new manager needs to look for a new era of Everton heroes when things are more stable.
Grade: C+
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