Wayne Rooney will play for Everton again at Goodison Park after agreeing to feature in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial, which is against Villarreal.

The Scot was a former mentor and team-mate of Rooney’s at Everton, the boyhood club of the Manchester United captain. Ferguson had three spells at the club, the first on loan. During the last of these, between 2000-06, Rooney made his debut in August 2002.

Rooney, who is on United’s pre-season tour of America, said: “As a young lad growing up in Croxteth Duncan Ferguson was a hero of mine, as a young player at the club he was an inspiration and when I broke into the first team he helped and looked after me. I cannot think of a better way to thank Dunc for all he did for me than turning out in his fully deserved testimonial match. Had he not asked me to play I would have gone and supported him on the day as I am sure most other Evertonians will.”

Ferguson said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the wee man has agreed to play in the game. Everybody knows that we go way back. I knew him as a kid, he’s a top man and I’m proud as his friend that he’s fulfilled the potential we always knew was there. Wayne’s a world-class player and I’m genuinely thrilled that he will play on the day, just as I’m so grateful to the club for putting on this game.”

The match takes place on 2 August, six days before United face Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford in the season opener so it would be expected Rooney will have only a light run out so as to mitigate against suffering injury.