Mark
Jan 1 2003, 03:02 AM
RICHARD DUNNE has warned Wayne Rooney to be ready for a New Year's Day nightmare at Goodison.
Manchester City's Dunne, 23, is a tough centre-back who is not fazed by the publicity surrounding his former club's boy wonder.
And he has already predicted that they will handle the young firebrand.
Dunne said: "Plenty of my good friends are Evertonians and they are all raving about Wayne Rooney. We know he is a great prospect and a fiery so-and-so but we can handle ourselves at the back.
"There is no chance of us making life easy for him."
But Dunne added: "Sometimes in all the publicity that Wayne is getting people lose sight that Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Campbell in particular are a real handful. If you look at the Premiership's all-time goal scorer's list, Kevin is right up there.
"I noticed he came off on Saturday against Bolton with an ankle injury and if, as it seems likely, he is missing it will be a big bonus for us."
Everton have opened talks with American club Columbus Crew in a bid to land United States striker Brian McBride on a three-month loan deal.
McBride, 30, played for Goodison chief David Moyes at Preston two years ago and will require a work permit but Everton do not envisage any problems.
If Campbell fails a fitness test on his ankle, Rooney will start alongside Radzinski.Moyes said: "If Kevin doesn't make it I'm confident Rooney and Radzinski can do a job.
"We're still nurturing Wayne but by the end of the season he'll have played between 20 and 25 games for us. Don't forget he is only 17 and will continue to improve."
Manchester City's Dunne, 23, is a tough centre-back who is not fazed by the publicity surrounding his former club's boy wonder.
And he has already predicted that they will handle the young firebrand.
Dunne said: "Plenty of my good friends are Evertonians and they are all raving about Wayne Rooney. We know he is a great prospect and a fiery so-and-so but we can handle ourselves at the back.
"There is no chance of us making life easy for him."
But Dunne added: "Sometimes in all the publicity that Wayne is getting people lose sight that Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Campbell in particular are a real handful. If you look at the Premiership's all-time goal scorer's list, Kevin is right up there.
"I noticed he came off on Saturday against Bolton with an ankle injury and if, as it seems likely, he is missing it will be a big bonus for us."
Everton have opened talks with American club Columbus Crew in a bid to land United States striker Brian McBride on a three-month loan deal.
McBride, 30, played for Goodison chief David Moyes at Preston two years ago and will require a work permit but Everton do not envisage any problems.
If Campbell fails a fitness test on his ankle, Rooney will start alongside Radzinski.Moyes said: "If Kevin doesn't make it I'm confident Rooney and Radzinski can do a job.
"We're still nurturing Wayne but by the end of the season he'll have played between 20 and 25 games for us. Don't forget he is only 17 and will continue to improve."