David Moyes is fighting a one-man battle to protect Wayne Rooney from suffering from over-exposure but the Everton manager's task is becoming harder with every new achievement of the teenage striker. The 17-year-old's startling performance in England's 2-0 Euro 2004 qualifying win over Turkey on Wednesday was the latest step on the ladder to stardom for a player who less than a year ago was still a regular in Everton's youth team.
Already crowned man-of-the-match, he left the pitch a minute from the end and was rewarded with a standing ovation by the crowd at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. The English media duly weighed in with unanimous worship of the Everton youngster and England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson asked: "How can I leave him out if he plays like that?"
England's next game is a friendly in South Africa on May 22 but Moyes is desperate for Rooney not to be involved. "I would hope that England do not include Wayne in any end-of-season trips," Moyes told the Everton website. "What's the point in us trying to look after him if he's travelling away all over the world? It's not so much the extra games which are the worry but the length of time he is away."
"Sven has spoken to me a few times about him and I am sure he will understand the need to protect him, as we have done. We have to protect him from over-exposure."
Moyes has been desperately trying to restrict Rooney's club appearances this season, despite it becoming increasingly obvious that he is a massive talent who has the ability to strike fear into the most experienced premier league defenders. Everton's fans have recognised what their manager is trying to achieve with their prize asset and have shown great patience and understanding as week after week he is named as a substitute.
Filed by Shane Murray
