Louis van Gaal Admits Concern over Wayne Rooney Form Ahead of Everton vs. United

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has conceded he holds some doubt over the form of club captain Wayne Rooney ahead of Saturday's trip to face Everton at Goodison Park.

Rooney returns to his old stomping ground having failed to score in his last six successive matches at Goodison, but Van Gaal has laid down the gauntlet for his striker to end that drought, per the Daily Mail's Chris Wheeler:

"

Yes, but maybe against Everton that can change. I have heard his average there is not so good. So it’s getting time that he changed that pattern.

I’m a manager who analyses opponents and gives him advice as to how we can disorganise Everton’s defence, then maybe he can score. He’s our captain, so that’s very important, because his influence is bigger than every other player in our group.

"

The Red Devils travel to Merseyside in Week 9 having lost in each of their last three visits to Goodison Park, the most recent of those coming in the shape of a 3-0 humiliation last April.

Rooney has just one goal to his name this Premier League season and there were murmurs the captain could be dropped on Saturday, but Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News believes he'll be in Van Gaal's XI:

Sunderland are the only Premier League team to have conceded a goal to Rooney this term, despite the fact a hat-trick against Club Brugge back in August pushed the notion his drop in scoring form would end.

That hasn't been the case, though, and while the 29-year-old has been off target, the likes of Anthony Martial and Juan Mata have been left to fill the void in front of goal, bagging three strikes apiece in the league.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

It's been discussed that Rooney's transition into a more rounded asset over the years may have led to the loss of the venom he once had in attack.

However, that has led to the Red Devils leader taking on the role of provider as well as finisher in United's setup, a responsibility that Squawka illustrates as putting him among an elite crew of England-based attackers:

Van Gaal's side have motivation in excess to succeed on Saturday; not only is their recent record at Everton a concern, but United lost 3-0 to Arsenal in their most recent fixture prior to the international break.

Rooney's last goal away from home came in November last year in the 2-1 defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, but to get that record back up and running at Goodison Park would be sweet reward after such a long wait.

The forward is fortunate Van Gaal cares more about the team than who's scoring the goals, too, after insisting Rooney remains important because "his influence is bigger than any other player," per Stuart Mathieson of the M.E.N.

Current form makes it a difficult request, but captain Rooney will be the man looked upon to reverse those fortunes.