Everton striker Wayne Rooney has insisted that he has no issues with manager Sam Allardyce.
Rumours of a rift between the pair emerged when the former England striker reacted angrily to being substituted in the 0-0 draw with local rivals Liverpool earlier this month, but Rooney has said that the matter was blown out of proportion.
"Ask any Liverpudlian who grew up as an Everton fan and gets substituted early on in a derby if they'd be happy coming off - they'd say no," Sky Sports News quotes Rooney as saying.
"It's me that gets highlighted a bit more than it would with other players.
"There was no issue with me and the manager or with me coming off. I respect the manager's decision but of course there was frustration because I wanted to stay on.
"I spoke to him [afterwards] but really we spoke because of how it getting built up to be something it wasn't. There was no issue over it."
Rooney went on to praise his under-fire boss, stating that he has "done the job that's been asked of him" by steering the club away from the relegation zone since taking charge last November.
Mark Langshaw
