Ronald Koeman has left the door open for Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton as cover for fifth-choice central midfielder Darron Gibson.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Ham, Koeman confirmed he was on the lookout for a balding, barrel-chested, deep-lying play-maker to ping the ball about a bit in the event of all his other midfielders being unavailable.

While usually this role is left to Gibson, a former Manchester United team-mate of Rooney’s, Koeman said he couldn’t rely on the Irishman’s availability due to drinking commitments.

He said: “Of course we would welcome Rooney back to Everton.

“His experience could prove vital if Idrissa Gueye, Gareth Barry, Ross Barkley, James McCarthy and Darron Gibson all happened to be sidelined at the same time.

“Of course wages could prove a stumbling block, but we’d offer Wayne the option of supplementing his paycheck by carrying out other tasks around the club.

“Those trestle tables won’t lug themselves around.”