Wayne Rooney to hold showdown talks with Everton boss Ronald Koeman today and could be fined £320,000 after drink-drive arrest
WAYNE ROONEY has reported back to Everton training for the first time since his drink-drive arrest and faces showdown talks with boss Ronald Koeman.
Former England captain Rooney is battling to save his marriage after being stopped by police in the early hours of Friday morning behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle belonging to single mum Laura Simpson.
The Everton striker was charged with drink-driving after failing a breathalyser test and could be banned from driving if convicted in court.
And he is also gearing up for a dressing-down by club bosses at Goodison Park having been caught up in the off-the-pitch scandal just two months since returning to Merseyside from Manchester United.
Rooney arrived at Everton’s Finch Farm training base this morning for first-team training – but is expecting a summons from manager Koeman afterwards.
The Everton boss is understood to be far from happy at the behaviour of his player, and could hit the former England captain with a club fine of two weeks’ wages – £320,000.
Looking glum-faced behind the wheel of his Range Rover, Rooney drove into the training ground just minutes before manager Koeman.
The Dutchman has a no-nonsense reputation and is likely to make it clear that Rooney’s behaviour, while having time off over the international break, is not acceptable.
Everton want to draw a line under the affair as quickly as possible to allow Koeman and Rooney the chance to prepare for Saturday’s crunch Premier League match at home to Tottenham.
The forward has made an impressive start to his career back at his boyhood club, scoring twice in his first three league matches.
And Koeman will want to keep faith with the former United star against Spurs as the side looks to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last time out.
But he will be keeping a close eye on the mood of the 31-year-old, who away from football is fighting to save his marriage to childhood sweetheart Coleen.
His pregnant wife is said to be fuming at his behaviour, which saw Rooney leave a nightclub in a taxi with “party-girl” Simpson and then get behind the wheel of her car to drive her home.
Police stopped the convertible Beetle for a faulty brake light and then breathalysed Rooney after apparently smelling alcohol on his breath.
The player had earlier been out in bars near his Cheshire home with pals, including former England and United team-mate Wes Brown.
Twenty-nine-year-old mum-of-one Simpson has admitted “kissing and hugging” Rooney before his arrest, and also confessed they could have gone on to sleep together had they not been stopped on the road by police.