LONDON - Wayne Rooney scored his first hat-trick in six years and a first treble for his beloved Everton as it roared back to life by thrashing West Ham 4-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Rooney, who capped his night with a wonder strike that he described as possibly his "best ever" goal, showed no mercy to the man who had handed him his professional debut at Goodison Park back in 2002, giving Hammers boss David Moyes another unhappy return to the ground where he spent 11 years before joining Rooney at Manchester United.

Rooney's treble, which was complemented by a late header from Ashley Williams, ensured caretaker boss David Unsworth ended his brief reign with a smile on his face, picking up a second win from seven games.

"It was very enjoyable," Rooney told the BBC.

"It was a difficult moment for us as a club. It was a big game with the new manager coming in. We needed a big performance and we had that - especially in the first half.

"We had to win. We had to stand up and show what good players we are. It's the first step of where we want to go - moving up the league."

Unsworth will return to his role with Everton's under-23 team, with Sam Allardyce due to be named Everton's permanent boss on Thursday.

Allardyce was at Goodison Park after finalizing a deal at the club's Finch Farm training complex.

Former Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham boss Allardyce has never been relegated from the Premier League and stepped in to rescue struggling Crystal Palace midway through last season. He resigned, however, before the start of the current campaign.

"Great display from Wayne. He was captain for a reason," Unsworth said.

Rooney enjoyed a slice of luck with his first goal as his poorly struck penalty was saved by Joe Hart but landed at the perfect height for him to nod home and score for the first time since the 5-2 loss to Arsenal on Oct 22.

He smashed in a cutback from fellow Everton youth academy graduate Jonjoe Kenny in the 28th minute, but saved his best goal for last, reacting quickly to a scuffed Hart clearance to drive the loose ball into the net from behind the halfway line.

Asked if he had ever scored a better goal, Rooney said: "I don't think so. It's maybe the best goal I've ever scored. I hit it as well as I've ever kicked a football. To make it my first Everton hat-trick, I'm delighted.

"The third goal, it fell to me, Joe's out of his goal and I thought I'll have a go and I hit it sweet," Rooney said.

"I tried to hit it hard and keep it under control. It was a perfect moment."

Hammers boss Moyes, whose side is languishing in the relegation zone, said: "It's what Wayne can do. He's always got goals in him and technical ability. He's got the knack of being in the right place to score goals."

Allardyce had just one game with Rooney while in charge of England before he was forced to resign from the job because of a newspaper sting in 2016 but finds the all-time England and Manchester United top scorer in top form as he takes the helm.

"It's a new chapter," added Rooney.

"Sam is a very good manager. I'm sure he'll bring some new ideas. We're looking forward to our first (training) game with him tomorrow."

Reuters

(China Daily 12/01/2017 page24)