Everton coach Alan Stubbs doesn't understand the criticism of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

He cannot understand why Rooney gets so much stick when the country should be proud of a player possessing so much talent.

Stubbs, 40, told the Daily Star: "It's interesting to see people who want to pull him down. But he will never be pulled down because his desire to win is greater than what people will ever realise.

"I was listening to the radio and they were talking about his weight. Suddenly now, by all accounts, he's very fat. If Wayne had played for England on Friday night and had a man-of-the-match performance would anyone be talking about his weight then?

"No. Sometimes you have to keep your nerve and hold your anger when you are listening to these talk shows because I actually at times want to ring them up myself and support him.

"I look at Wayne in a different light to everyone else. I see him as a brilliant footballer and a friend. Some people see him as a person they don't want to like. He's the enemy. People just don't like to see someone doing well.

"He's got fantastic ability and that's it. Away from football you see a soft family man who is very gentle and loves his wife and kid."