Everton boss Sam Allardyce has admitted that Wayne Rooney struggles to be effective when coming up against "the very best" the Premier League has to offer.
The 32-year-old was withdrawn an hour into the Toffees' goalless draw with Liverpool on Saturday, a week on from being replaced at the same stage against Manchester City.
Rooney reacted angrily to Allardyce's decision, seemingly aiming a rant at his manager, which the former England chief revealed after the match was down to needing "more legs" in the middle of the field.
Allardyce has now cast further doubt on the striker-cum-midfielder's long-term future at Goodison Park, telling reporters: "I can agree with you, to a certain degree, that Wayne struggles against the very best opposition.
"He didn't play very well in the first half against Manchester City but, before that, he had been outstanding and we had been a little bit short in midfield in recent weeks anyway.
"We're still playing Tom Davies at 19 and bringing on Beni Baningime at 19-years-old and we are without Gylfi Sigurdsson, who can play there.
"Davy Klaassen is still an anomaly to me. Will he or won't he? If I had the opportunity to play him I would, but I haven't because I've got to win. So, I don't have the luxury of saying, 'Go on, give it a go lad,' because if we lose, it's me who gets the stick."
Rooney has started 24 games for Everton in the top flight this term and featured a further four times from the bench.
Daniel Lewis
