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David Moyes has buried the hatchet with Wayne Rooney and admitted
his former striker is destined to become one of the best in the
world.
Everton boss Moyes fell out with the Manchester United and
England star prior to his acrimonious £27million move to Old
Trafford in 2004.
The pair later became involved in a libel dispute following
claims by Rooney in his autobiography but that was settled two
years ago and Moyes now has the utmost respect for the 24-year-old.
Rooney has been in outstanding form for United, scoring 25
times this season, and he will be reunited with Moyes as the
Barclays Premier League champions visit his boyhood club on
Saturday.
Moyes said: "I think Wayne is a top player and I think he is
going to be a great player.
"He has added goals to his game, maturity, understanding -
all the things you would expect from a maturing player.
"I think time will be the test of whether he becomes the best
in the world but he is certainly getting very close to it."
One of Rooney's written criticisms was that Moyes was
overbearing but the player has since apologised.
Moyes now believes Everton can feel proud of the role they
played in Rooney's development but he thinks the club have learned
lessons from the way his situation was handled.
Rooney came through the Everton ranks and was tipped for
stardom even before he burst into the first team at the age of 16.
Moyes said: "All credit to Wayne, he rang me to apologise
about a year ago for all the things he wrote in his book.
"That was something that made me realise he was a maturing
man.
"He realised what he had been given at Everton was great and
his development, what we tried to do, was right.
"All in all, I think Wayne would probably look back on his
time at Everton as being good.
"We probably weren't ready for Wayne Rooney at the time. I
think we would be more ready now."
While Rooney will undoubtedly hope to make his mark at his
former stomping ground, Everton will have a striker of their own
wanting to impress against old employers.
Louis Saha has enjoyed a new lease of life since joining
Everton from United at the start of last season, putting behind him
an injury-ravaged four-year spell at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman has scored 15 goals this term and struck twice
to stun league leaders Chelsea nine days ago.
Moyes said: "I don't think he has got a point to prove
against them, Louis is well known as a top player wherever he has
been.
"He had a difficult last couple of years at Manchester United
because of injury but I think overall most people would say he is
one of those strikers that can be very difficult to play against."
United will hope to take advantage of the lunchtime kick-off
to put pressure on Chelsea, who play at Wolves later in the
afternoon.
Victory would, possibly only briefly, take United top of the
table but Moyes has assured them of a tough contest.
In-form Everton have lost just one of their last 11 league
outings to move up to ninth and possibly into European contention.
Moyes said: "We have a belief here we can beat any team on
our day.
"Manchester United has been a difficult fixture in the past
but I think overall, with the players we have got here, that they
will certainly be given a game."
Everton, however, must fill a void in midfield after losing
the services of two key midfielders in Marouane Fellaini and Tim
Cahill.
Fellaini was ruled out for the season with an ankle injury
earlier this week and his loss was compounded when Cahill strained
a damaged calf in the Europa League defeat of Sporting Lisbon on
Tuesday.
Moyes added: "It has been a really difficult season not
helped by losing Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill.
"We seemed to be saying we were getting players back.
"It is as well we do feel in good fettle because we are
winning, we are on a run. We have got to watch we don't lose any
more."
