Former captain of England and Manchester United, Wayne Rooney, reveals his "biggest career regret" in a talkSPORT interview

Wayne Rooney only told talkSPORT he had "a regret" for his brilliant career: he did not play as an attacker in his last Everton season.

In 2002, the whole world was in unison to applaud the 16-year-old boy who, in the closing seconds of the match, grabbed the ball from the sky and sent a shot as he took off from the bar cross.

Not only did Rooney score the winner, but it was also against Arsenal, the defending Premier League champion, to end a run of 30 games without defeat.

Such was the meteoric rise of the attacker. Manchester United immediately called and Rooney became the most expensive teenager in the world in 2004.

After 559 appearances and 253 goals for the Red Devils, Rooney ignored the lucrative offers from China and MLS to return to Goodison Park in 2017.

But his return to Everton was not planned as the former England captain, the Toffees fighting on the wrong side of the table.

Rooney fell into line with coach Sam Allardyce and, when he had time to play, he often played a bigger role in helping Everton's midfield.

And given his illustrious career in the Premier League, Rooney says it's the only thing he would change.

"I loved playing football and getting involved in the game," Rooney told Drivetime Thursday.

"But if I was maybe a little more selfish, my statistics would probably be a little better if I played number nine throughout my career.

"I think my only regret, in fact, was my last year at Everton."

Given his early abilities, officials of clubs and international clubs have chosen to leave the 33-year-old in midfield to use his range of pbades.

However, the England striker wanted to play as a central scorer to show his predatory instinct in front of goal.

And Rooney thinks he should have insisted on playing ahead during his last season at Everton, even when the team was failing.