Man Utd boss Ferguson brushes off Wayne Rooney talk

Everton fans still bear a a grudge over Rooney's move to Man Utd Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to discuss Wayne Rooney's current off-field problems ahead of Saturday's match at Everton. Rooney, 24, has been at the centre of allegations about his private life ahead of the trip to his former club. But Ferguson would not be drawn on his problems or the hostile reception the striker faces at Goodison Park. "Let's put it to bed straightaway. I am not discussing any of my players' personal lives," said the Scot. Ferguson did admit, however, he expects a tough game despite Everton's indifferent early-season form. "We know the dangers of Everton. We got slaughtered by them last season, well and truly beaten," he said. "The atmosphere is always good there. It's a hard place to go, but it's also a fantastic place to go and we've got a good record there." I'm not exactly best of friends with Wayne so I've not been hanging around with him that much Everton defender Phil Jagielka Everton manager David Moyes was also unwilling to discuss his former striker ahead of Saturday's game. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: "I think if you are a good football journalist you don't ask those kind of questions. "If you are a gossip journalist you ask me those questions. I am interested in talking about the game and that's what I'll do." However, Everton defender Phil Jagielka has predicted that fans at Goodison will not hold back in dishing out some "stick" to Rooney, who left Everton for Old Trafford for £20m in the summer of 2004 after bursting on to the football scene as a 16-year-old. "It should be amusing," said the centre-back who has been on England duty with Rooney. "It is always interesting playing against people you've just been away with in the week. No doubt I'll give him a bit of banter if he plays. "There is a good chance he will get slaughtered. He normally gets quite a bit of stick anyway. I can't see that changing come Saturday." Rooney made his name under Moyes at Everton But he continued: "I'm sure Wayne can deal with it. He is tough and will let his football do the talking. "I will enjoy the battle against him. I like playing against good players and Wayne is definitely a good player." Rooney was influential in helping England beat Bulgaria last Friday and, after allegations concerning his private life were made public in the News of the World and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the weekend, he scored in the 3-1 victory in Switzerland on Tuesday. England boss Fabio Capello praised his display, but Jagielka said he could not offer any more of an insight into the striker's mindset. "He seems his normal self but I haven't got an in-depth view of how he has been feeling," he added. Former Manchester United star and England team-mate David Beckham said Rooney would get plenty of support from Ferguson and his staff. "He's definitely at the right team and has the right manager to help him cope with any situation," said the LA Galaxy midfielder. "I know that from my own personal experience of being at Manchester United for so many years, it is a club that puts its arms around you and supports you, so he's got that."