Fans fired up for Rooney's return

ALEX FERGUSON will unleash Wayne Rooney on Everton this evening, confident his £27 million striker can handle the abuse certain to roll down the Goodison Park stands.

Everton have drafted in extra security for Rooney's first return since he controversially quit his boyhood idols to join Manchester United in August.

Toffees fans have warned the 19-year-old he faces an ugly reception, even though their team have prospered since his departure, and the England international's mental strength seems certain to receive a severe test as the FA Cup-holders look to book a place in the last eight.

But the furore surrounding Rooney's re-appearance on Merseyside has not prompted Ferguson to take the youngster out of the firing line, even though Ruud van Nistelrooy is available for the first time in three months. The United boss believes it is inevitable the home supporters will target their old boy, but remains convinced the Croxteth-born star will be unaffected by the verbal battering.

"Wayne will handle the pressure," said Ferguson. "Like any player going back to his former club, he is going to get a bit of stick.

"That kind of thing happens all the time these days because it is rare for a player to spend all his career at one club.

"But over the years, Manchester United's relationship with Everton has been outstanding and hopefully that will be the same after today."

The anticipation of Rooney's return is heightened by the very real possibility he could be the match-winner.

Last month, he scored the only goal at Anfield when United defeated Liverpool, while last weekend, his was the only Red Devils' name on the score-sheet in a victorious Manchester derby at Eastlands.

Those efforts are part of his present run of six goals in eight appearances, which also includes a late effort in the third-round replay at Exeter as well as his two wonder strikes in the fourth-round victory over Middlesbrough three weeks ago.

"Wayne has been fantastic for us recently," said Ferguson. "I don't need to spell that out; the evidence is there on the football field. What we can all see now is a maturing player, a young lad who is getting better and better all the time."

It is a sentiment shared by Everton boss David Moyes.

"It's hard to deal with good players coming back here, and Wayne is hard to deal with because he is a very good player. I know Wayne has been improving all the time.

"His age will be making him better; he has more experience, more confidence as he continues in his career. He was an excellent player when he was here, but I am sure he has improved since he left us - that must be obvious.

"We will treat United with respect, and all their players with respect, because they are a fabulous team with some really good players. Wayne is one of them, and history shows that these players will win trophies."

Everton are chasing Champions League football, having coped sufficiently well this season despite losing Rooney.

"Wayne has gone now; we wish him all the best," said skipper Alan Stubbs, "but we are doing well without him.

"Hopefully, things won't get too carried away because I would like to think that Everton, the players and fans have moved on and Wayne Rooney has moved on. But when you look back at the transfer now, it was all for the benefit of Everton.

"But if he plays, he plays."

Stubbs joked: "I will see if I can get close to him, see if I can kick him. You never know!

"But the game is more important. The last time we beat Manchester United in the FA Cup, we won the cup."

THOUGH Rooney's 13-goal effort has torpedoed him to the top of United's goal-scoring charts, he remains a mere star pupil alongside the master van Nistelrooy.

With 13 wins in 19 outings since the prolific Dutchman last turned out for the Old Trafford outfit, the statistics indicate van Nistelrooy has not been missed too much.

But the 28-year-old's recovery from an Achilles injury could not be better timed, given Wednesday's vital Champions League tussle with AC Milan.

Van Nistelrooy was a goal-scorer at the Millennium Stadium in May when United lifted the FA Cup for a record 11th time and was also on target twice on their last visit to Goodison 12 months ago, nodding home an injury-time winner after Everton had battled their way back from a three-goal half-time deficit.

While an anticipated sticky pitch will probably prevent Van Nistelrooy from starting today's encounter, he seems certain to be allocated a bench slot, along with another fit-again front-man Alan Smith, with Louis Saha set to play after recovering from a slight hamstring problem.

"The strength of the side just now is phenomenal," said Ferguson. "We are playing so well, I am tempted to leave things alone. The changes are only about whether I introduce one of the strikers or two. Once we get this game out of the way, we have four days to prepare for Milan. After that I will make changes, purely because of the draining effect next Wednesday's game will have on some of my players."