Everton FC news: Ross Barkley can still be a ‘massive player’ for us, insists Wayne Rooney

1 Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley still has a big future at Everton.

That’s the view of Wayne Rooney, who is confident the 24-year-old can rediscover the form that marked him out as one of English football’s most talented prospects.

Injury and inconsistency have curtailed his progress in recent times, but Rooney is sure his best days are still to come.

And he hopes those days are spent Goodison Park, despite talk of a possible transfer to Chelsea or Tottenham in the January window.

He insisted: “Ross is a fantastic player, really talented, and under Sam [Allardyce], with the players we have in the squad now, it can help him. I feel Everton have a better balance in the squad which will give him a bit more freedom than he has had.

“If we can get him fit, get him back playing, he is a massive player for us. Ability-wise he is one of the best I’ve seen. It is just about showing that on match day.

“I feel he has the right coaches to show that, and the right players on the pitch.”

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