Mata: It will be weird facing Rooney

Juan Mata has admitted that it will be "weird" to see his former team-mate and captain Wayne Rooney as an opposition player at Old Trafford. 

The forwards will line up against one another this Sunday when Everton visit Old Trafford in the Premier League. Rooney returns as Manchester United's all-time top goalscorer after his 13-season spell at United, and Mata was key to highlight his significance in his weekly blog, 'One Hour Behind'.

"[Everton] have made very good signings, and of course they have a player like Wayne Rooney, who I hope gets the reception he deserves from Old Trafford. 

"It will be weird to see Wayne playing with a different shirt, to be honest, but this is the decision he made last summer and we wish him the best of luck."

Before the weekend's Premier League clash, Old Trafford also sees the return of Champions League football. United open their campaign against Basel, and Mata is excited to be playing in Europe's premier competition once again.

"The group stage of the Champions League kicks off and we are back there, with the best teams in Europe, the place where Manchester United should always be.

"We missed it a little bit last season - although we made the most of our year in the Europa League with that night in Stockholm - and now it's time to compete at the highest level."