Wayne Rooney should be getting into the box more, says Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce has told Wayne Rooney to increase his presence in the opposition penalty area following clear-the-air talks this week with ...

Sam Allardyce has told Wayne Rooney to increase his presence in the opposition penalty area following clear-the-air talks this week with the former England captain.

Rooney did not disguise his anger at being substituted during the goalless draw with Liverpool last Saturday, when 32-year-old was withdrawn in the 57th minute by Allardyce for the second game in succession. The Everton manager, who insists he has no problem with Rooney’s reaction, explained that he wanted “more legs” in midfield but believes the striker remains better suited to a deeper role. Allardyce, however, also wants Rooney to attack more, with the team’s leading goalscorer having failed to find the target since the defeat of Swansea City on 18 December.

“With his experience he should be dropping deeper and providing goals but I do think he should get into the box more,” said the Everton manager, whose team travel to Swansea on Saturday. “He hasn’t scored since Swansea and not scored from open play since Newcastle [13 December] and I would like him to get forward a little bit more. Certainly in the games we are controlling more and attacking more I would like him further up the pitch but he is also one of our best passers. I would like that combination to get bigger, certainly from a goalscoring point of view.”

Rooney has scored 11 goals this season – three from the penalty spot – with Oumar Niasse Everton’s second highest scorer with eight.

Allardyce added: “We’ve only got Wayne in double figures and that’s because of penalties. If you’re going to get into Europe you can’t get there without two players getting into double figures – minimum – so that’s been a massive struggle this year. We haven’t got anyone who has come close to scoring the amount of goals that [Romelu] Lukaku got last year and that’s why our defending has to be so much better. It doesn’t need an experienced manager like me to work that one out.”