Rooney looks to inspire United against former club

England striker Wayne Rooney returns to former club Everton on Saturday looking to help Manchester United revive its stuttering Premier League title challenge at a ground where the team has struggled in recent seasons.

England striker Wayne Rooney returns to former club Everton on Saturday looking to help Manchester United revive its stuttering Premier League title challenge at a ground where the team has struggled in recent seasons.

United has slipped five points off the fierce pace set by Manchester City following a humbling 6-1 home defeat to its rival last weekend, which came a week after needing a late equalizer to rescue a 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

Rooney missed last season's fixture at Everton as United manager Alex Ferguson spared the striker a return to Goodison Park to protect him from the vitriol of the home fans following tabloid revelations about his private life but is likely to feature this time around.

Ferguson says "it's always a difficult game at Everton."