Could Everton star Wayne Rooney be deployed as a holding midfielder?
Rooney played in the holding midfield role for Everton against Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend in the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin.
The Toffees won the Premier League match 2-0 on Saturday afternoon to ease their relegation fears.
Everton boss Allardyce has suggested that he could use Rooney in the holding midfield role again.
Allardyce told The Guardian about Rooney playing as a holding midfielder: “I asked him if he was all right with it and he always says ‘yes’.
“If you look at how many positions Wayne played in for Manchester United – wide right, wide left, in the hole, up front.
“Here he has been midfield, front line, in behind the front man and now the sitting midfielder in a three and he prompted the game very well.
“It is not always the case a midfielder in that position has to be a good defender. He has to be a really good passer for me and if he is a really good passer then we do less defending and get more attacking movements.”
A risk?
Rooney did do a good job as a holding midfielder against Brighton, but that does not mean that the Manchester United legend will be able to repeat his heroics.
The 32-year-old is best used as an attacking midfielder, and playing him in a deeper role is only going to restrict him from playing his best game.
Everton are ninth in the Premier League table at the moment with 37 points from 30 matches, as many as 10 points above the relegation zone.
According to Goal.com, Rooney earns £150,000 per week as salary at Everton.
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