Wayne Rooney hasn’t been relevant in Draft Fantasy for a number of years and there would have been few managers looking at him when teams were chosen at the beginning of the season. He was slowly moved out of the picture at Manchester United and it was hoped that this summer’s move back home to Everton would give him a new lease of life.

There were early signs of optimism for the England international, but he didn’t show enough to become an attractive option in Draft Fantasy. Since the appointment of Sam Allardyce, that is changing and the Premier League legend should now be on the radar of every player.

He currently stands on 104 points, after contributing ten goals and three assists to date. Incredibly, he ranks higher than Harry Kane (98) and Romelu Lukaku (97). It would have been idiocy to draft Rooney ahead of either at the beginning of the season, but he is currently outperforming both.

Although it is unlikely that he will continue to better them, he does look to be a good Draft Fantasy option for the rest of the campaign. He will play most matches and he has a point to prove as his career winds down.

The 32-year-old is great form and reaching levels that few thought he could reach at this stage of his career. He has scored six goals and contributed two assists in his last five matches. The appointment of Allardyce has provided him with the momentum that he needs to thrive on the pitch.

Even if he is played in midfield, he will get goal-scoring opportunities as he takes a lot of the team’s set pieces, including penalties. The new Toffees’ manager knows how to prevent his players from being injured, which makes it likely Rooney will remain fit and available for action. A healthy goal and assist return is expected during the second half of the campaign.

The underlying stats don’t make for the most encouraging reading, as he averages only 1.91 shots and 1.82 chances created per ninety minutes. However, Rooney has quality end produce and his decision making rarely lets him down.

He may be getting on in age, but he is great at reading the game and anticipating when an opportunity will present itself. This was evident against Newcastle United, as he pounced on a goalkeeping error to score the winner. His declining physical attributes may deter some, but his intelligence makes him an attractive Draft Fantasy option.

The last few matches have been a hot streak for Rooney and it may be too late to get him into your team, but he does look like a good option at the time of writing. Allardyce is a manager that gets results and Everton look a much better team than they did before his appointment.

The England and Manchester United legend has been central to that. He will continue to get minutes and it would be a surprising if he didn’t contribute with goals and assists. The 32-year-old is relevant again in Fantasy Football.