Rooney: No issue with Allardyce

Rooney was caught on camera reacting angrily to being substitued in the Merseyside derby earlier this month, but Rooney insists that his frustration was natural and that the media had blown it out of all 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," he told 'Sky Sports News'.

"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."

Speaking of Allardyce, Rooney was full of praise for his boss, saying: "He has done the job that's been asked of him.

"When he took over we were 17th in the league. We're sitting here now in ninth position.

"We were panicking a bit when he took over. There was talk of relegation and he has steadied that. We're in ninth position and could possibly finish eighth."

Finally, Rooney took the opportunity to champion club team-mate Jordan Pickford's case for being England's starting goalkeeper at this summer's World Cup, insisting he is the best man for the job.

"He is England's No 1, he's the best keeper the country's got," Rooney insisted..

"The England manager has got a tough decision to make - he's also got the experience of Joe Hart.

"In my opinion there's two goalkeepers who could play - Hart and Pickford - and unfortunately for Joe he hasn't played enough.

"He is a character around the dressing room and at times this season he has saved us points and kept us in games. He has done his job.

"You need your keeper to talk, it gives everyone security, especially your back four. He's performed really well for this season.

"He has been a great signing and will be here for a long time, I'm sure."