Mauricio Pochettino 'rates Wayne Rooney as high as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi'

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has said that he rates Wayne Rooney as highly as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The Argentine coach takes his team to Old Trafford tomorrow and was full of praise for the Manchester United forward.

"I was speaking about it with my staff and we were saying he is the type of football player who is able to understand what is needed and what's required of him at every single phase of the game," Pochettino told reporters.

"He's a fantastic player that's able to play up front, to drop a bit higher in the pitch.

"I honestly rate him as high as Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. I have a great admiration for how he is as a football player."

The England international has scored five and assisted four in eight Premier League appearances this season.