Predictably, Wayne Rooney dominates the back as well as the front pages this morning as the fourth estate forecast just how hostile a reception he will receive on his return to Goodison Park this afternoon.
‘Blue Murder’ is the headline on the back page of the Star this morning, as Alex Ferguson has predicted that Rooney and his teammates should expect a ‘bloody nightmare’ at Wayne’s old club.
Despite United’s excellent record against the Toffees in the Premier League, Ferguson said, “It is always a bloody nightmare going there. It would not matter if we had Dixie Dean playing for usâ€. Ferguson wasn’t prepared to comment on Rooney’ state of mind, however, snarling at reporters “Listen, I am not discussing any of my players’ personal lives. OK. Let’s put that to bed.â€
On the home front, there’s the small matter of the All-Ireland under-21 hurling final in Thurles this evening, with Tipperary looking to add another title to the Liam McCarthy they won so impressively last weekend.
‘Tribes future starts in Thurles’ is the headline to a preview of the game in the Irish Independent today, with Galway captain David Burke suggesting that a win today could prove crucial to the development of the county’s senior hurling team.
“We have the talent coming through. We were in a lot of minor finals over the last few years and I was unlucky enough; I lost two of them. If we were to get a result this weekend it could spark a bit of interest and get the ball rolling,†he said.
The game will go ahead in Semple Stadium despite protests from Galway officials and the Tribesmen will no doubt be well motivated to beat the Premier County in their own back yard. Eight of Tipperary’s team today were on the senior panel last week, however and Tipp’ will be confident of victory.
