"Wayne Rooney has the temperament to handle this game; I have no doubt about that. He has already been back to Merseyside once for the Liverpool and he wasn't fazed by that - so while I appreciate feelings are running high at Everton about his move to United, I don't think the game itself will have any problem. But you have to look at the AC Milan match coming so soon afterwards and wonder if Sir Alex might just decide to rest him for that one."
"The atmosphere will be incredible, and Wayne knows he will get a lot of abuse. But I also think the Everton fans need to put the situation into some kind of perspective. players move clubs; that is what happens in football, and when Manchester United bid for you it is hard to turn down."
"Look at Steven Gerrard's situation at Liverpool. He is as big a Liverpool fan as Wayne was Everton, but no one would be surprised if he started next season at Chelsea. Wayne is a young lad, still making his way in the game. In the end, he brought £27million into Everton - and people should remember that."