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Wayne Rooney says he still needs to convince people he is good enough to be back with the Everton - despite being the Blues’ match-winner against Stoke City.

Rooney admits he could have taken easier options this summer but wanted to return to Goodison despite the “pressure” of coming back.

The 31-year-old met Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross on the stroke of half-time on Saturday to head home the only goal of the game to ensure Everton got their league season off to a winning start.

Rooney revelled in what he called a “special moment” but is refusing to rest on his laurels and is adamant that by being back with his boyhood club he cannot let his standards slip.

“I knew when I came back here I was putting a lot of pressure on myself but that’s how I like to play,” Rooney said.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here, had a good pre-season and have been waiting for this game for a long time.

“Thankfully we got three points but, of course, it was a special moment for me to get the winning goal.

“There is a lot of expectation coming back here and there are still some fans who maybe thought I might not have even been good enough to come back here.

“But it’s up to me to prove myself but I’ve been working hard and I’m ready for that challenge to prove myself here again.”

Lucrative offers from the Chinese Super League were on the table for Rooney, who was also attracting interest from Major League Soccer, but he could not resist the lure of returning to Everton.

England’s all-time leading scorer also revealed that other Premier League clubs wanted to sign him but he believes that playing out his career at Goodison will see him finish with a flourish.

“There were lots of offers from other Premier League clubs and from abroad which would’ve financially been a lot better for me but I’ve always been a person who wants to play football and that’s why I chose to come back here and hopefully I can repay some of the faith Ronald Koeman has shown in me,” he said.

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“There’s always pressure, I had it for 13 years at Manchester United, there’s pressure to do well and coming back here when I could’ve gone to another Premier League team and almost taken my foot off the gas and seen out the last few years of my career.

“But coming back here, I know I have to be the best I can be because it’s the club I’ve grown up supporting, the club I want to play for and I want to do well.”

Rooney excelled during the second-half on Saturday when a formation change allowed him to dictate the game from a deeper role.

“Football fans aren’t silly, everyone knows I’m not the explosive player I was when I was here from 16-18,” he said.

“My game has changed, I think I’m a lot cleverer a player now, my game has changed and I’m sure they’ll see that in the next few weeks and the change in my game can help the team.”