Everton manager Ronald Koeman has insisted that Wayne Rooney "accepted" being dropped to the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Goodison Park.
The Dutchman opted to change things for Sunday afternoon's match on the back of a poor run of results, bringing in rejuvenated striker Oumar Niasse to partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin up top.
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Nikola Vlasic also got the nod, with Rooney being given less than 30 minutes to make an impact on the match.
Koeman insists that the ex-England international responded well after being told that he would not start, however, which he puts down to the player's commitment to the club.
"The reason was to change and bring a second striker in," he told reporters. "I had to make a decision about one or two midfield positions. I opted for Gylfi and I thought Nikola did well last Thursday on the ball and that was the reason not to start with Wayne.
"He was really positive. He is committed to the team, and to every Evertonian, and he showed that. I explained the situation, that we changed the style of play. Like every professional player, he accepted it."
Rooney has three goals to his name in 13 outings for boyhood club Everton since rejoining from Manchester United in the summer.
Daniel Lewis
