DAVID SEAMAN expects Wayne Rooney to have a major impact at Everton — just like the day he announced his Premier League arrival.
Former Arsenal keeper Seaman was beaten by a stunning 90th-minute winner from 16-year-old Roo in October 2002.
The looping 25-yard shot snatched a dramatic 2-1 win and was the teen’s first top-flight goal.
Now Rooney is back at Goodison at the age of 31 and Seaman is confident the ex-Manchester United and England captain will continue to score crucial goals.
The former Three Lions stopper, 53, said: “After that day against us, his goal-scoring record went on to become phenomenal. He is the leading scorer for England and that does not come by fluke.
“Wayne is a proper player. It is not all penalties. He has scored a lot of outfield goals.
“Too many people give him criticism and people should appreciate what he has done.
“He still has a few years at the top.
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“It is good he has gone to Everton. He could have gone to China and the challenge might not have been as hard.
“Going to Everton, he still has a lot to do. Not a lot to prove but a lot to do. They should once again push for Europe.”
Seaman accepts there was no way he could have kept out Rooney’s outstanding shot.
He added: “Before the game, we had heard about him but you don’t know how good young players are until you see them.
“You could tell straight away he was special.
“It was a bit like Bryan Robson, who was always talking about Ryan Giggs, saying there was a guy at United who was really special. When he scored it underlined his potential.
“He didn’t just strike it and get lucky. He gave me the eyes as though he was going to put it to my left and then bent it and put it to my right. All you could do was admire it. It was a great piece of skill.
“It hit the bar and went in. My hands were almost above the bar but the pace and swerve was too much.”
David Seaman leads the judging panel for SpottoCash, spot-the-ball for the digital generation. Visit spottocash.com for details.
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