<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><span style="line-height: 1.5">Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has hailed returning Wayne Rooney as the most influential player for his side, ahead of the clash against Everton.</span></h3> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="line-height: 1.5">The Manchester United captain has been suffering a goal-drought of sorts over the last year or so, but remains an irreplaceable part of the XI.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify">Van Gaal hails Rooney</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">As United prepare to take on Rooney's boyhood club, manager Louis van Gaal has hailed the English international.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">He was quoted as saying by <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-united/story/2666079/wayne-rooney-most-influential-manchester-united-player-lvg">ESPN FC:</a></p> <p style="text-align: justify">"He's our captain so that's very important because his influence is bigger than every other player in our group. He's a very important player for me, his colleagues, everybody."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"He's a second striker. Our No. 10 is a second striker. That's what my preference is but sometimes I need another type in midfield. We'll have to see if he continues with that because Wayne can play in different positions."</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify">Van Gaal defends Rooney's scoring record</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">The English international has scored just once this season, against relegation threatened Sunderland, with the forward enduring a season-long goal-drought before that.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Defending the goal-scoring record of the United captain, Van Gaal said: "He's scored for us in the Champions League. So for me it is not so important who is scoring. We have scored a lot of goals. In the beginning your criticism was we don't score goals, but now we've scored a lot of goals and you're picking up an individual player and I don't like that."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I'm a manager who analyses opponents and give him advice as to how we can disorganize Everton's defence and then maybe he can score," he said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"That is what I'm doing, not only for Wayne but all the players, especially from the view of the team tactics rather than the individual tactics."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Manchester United have found a solution to their goal-scoring drought, with teenage forward Anthony Martial in fine form, scoring thrice in four games in the league.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, United's forward line will need a support forward alongside Martial, and Wayne Rooney is expected to play this role.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Van Gaal is not entirely wrong when he says that the forward is the most influential player in the side, with his leadership ability and experience playing a big role in the influence he has on the side, alongside his talent.</p> . <!--Article End-->