DC United star Wayne Rooney admits he has a big regret over his return to Everton.

Rooney returned to Goodison Park in a blaze of publicity under Ronald Koeman last season, but the Toffees struggled and the Dutchman was sacked in October after a 5-2 defeat by Arsenal left them in the relegation zone.

His successor Sam Allardyce guided the club to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League but his style of football was deeply unpopular with fans.

Rooney could not hide his anger when substituted by Allardyce during the Merseyside derby in April, and he did not find the net again after his last goal in December.

“I was on 10 goals in December and the team weren't playing great," he told NBCSN.

“I remember looking at the situation with the manager and it became more apparent that the team would play better, move forward and win more games with me playing in midfield.

“Doing what I've done most of my career and putting the team first I went back into midfield but I believe if I'd stayed as a striker I probably would have reached the 20 goal mark and all of a sudden people would talk differently.

“I enjoyed my time there. I would obviously liked it to have lasted a bit longer and the club on their own made decisions which was a bit difficult to take."