Everton youngster Kieran Dowell has hailed Wayne Rooney's influence around the dressing room and believes that the England striker will bring out the best in the rest of the team.

The 19-year-old has impressed for the Toffees in recent pre-season games, scoring two impressive goals against Gor Mahia in Tanzania and against FC Twente in the Dutch village of De Lutte.

Dowell admits that he is reaping the benefits of playing alongside the likes of returning prodigy Rooney and fellow new signing Davy Klaassen as he seeks to make his mark in the first team.

"He's been quality," Dowell told the official Everton website. "As a local lad as well, he's really taken to us young local lads and really helped us.

"Even sitting next to me in the first half, he was giving me tips before I came on, so it's really good to have someone like him in the squad.

"It was great playing with Wazza and Davy [Klaassen] in the second half, and with Cuco Martina overlapping down the right, I thought it worked really well."

Rooney scored 17 goals in 77 appearances for Everton before leaving for Old Trafford in 2004 and etching his name in the Red Devils' history books.