Joey Barton questions David Unsworth’s treatment of Everton striker Wayne Rooney

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Wayne Rooney was left on the bench yesterday, as Everton were beaten 4-1 by Southampton.

Joey Barton has told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, which was broadcast on TalkSPORT on 27th November, that Everton caretaker boss David Unsworth has backed himself into a situation with Wayne Rooney.

Unsworth left Rooney on the bench yesterday, as Everton were beaten 4-1 by Southampton.

Ademola Lookman got on the St. Mary’s pitch before Rooney, with the veteran striker forced to watch on as his teammates fell to a heavy defeat.

And Barton has questioned whether Unsworth has treated Rooney correctly, as he surely wouldn’t be doing any worse than any other player in Everton’s starting line-up.

“He’s backed himself into a situation with Rooney,” Barton said. “Would he be doing any worse than any other Everton player?”

Barton has been a fierce critic of Unsworth ever since the 44-year-old was put in charge at Everton, but the temporary boss has done little to prove him wrong.

Unsworth has failed to spark an improvement in Everton’s performances, with the Toffees now looking nervously over their shoulders.

Everton are currently in 16th place in the Premier League table, with Martin O’Neill the latest name to be linked with the job at Goodison Park.

And Barton feels that the O’Neill links show how Everton’s managerial search has not gone according to plan.

“There’s no way that when Everton sacked Koeman, O’Neill was in the picture,” the former Burnley midfielder added.