Wayne Rooney: To score for Everton again is a great feeling

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney's fairytale return to Everton continued as he marked his first appearance since rejoining with a goal.

Rooney, 31, hit a 30-yard right-footed strike to beat the Gor Mahia goalkeeper in his top right-hand corner had echoes of Rooney's maiden goal for the club against Arsenal back in 2002 - five days short of his 17th birthday. Collecting the ball 40 yards out in the inside-left position he took one touch with his left foot, advanced the ball a few yards with his right before lashing home a shot.

"To score for Everton again is a great feeling," Rooney, who has gone back to his boyhood club after 13 years at Manchester United, told evertontv. "It's something I've been thinking of for the last couple of weeks, once I knew (the move) was happening. "Thankfully, I've done it in today's game and that 45 minutes will only help."

It marked the perfect way for Rooney, playing up front, to announce his return. Having put his side ahead in the 35th minute in the club's first pre-season friendly against Kenyan opponents in Tanzania. Rooney departed at half-time as manager Ronald Koeman made 11 changes as his side opened the campaign with a 2-1 victory.