Rooney is a blessing for Parker

Scott Parker is happy that before Charlton's game at Everton most of the attention-will be on 17-year-old striker Wayne Rooney.

The midfielder knows all about being a highly-hyped teenager since he starred in a McDonald's advert juggling a football as a 13-year-old and became the club's second youngest player of all time when he was 16.

Rooney has been in the spotlight following a sensational start to his career. But he has also attracted some unwanted attention as it was revealed today that the car belonging to his family has been targeted by vandals.

The tyres of the Ford Galaxy people-carrier have been punctured with nails twice in the last fortnight. The vandals struck when the car was parked outside the family's terraced home in the Croxteth area of Liverpool.

Everton are said to be discussing the possibility of moving the family to a detached house on an exclusive development in nearby West Derby, Liverpool.

Rooney and Parker come face to face at Goodison Park tomorrow and at the ripe old age of 22, Parker knows all about the pressure on the Everton forward.

Parker said: "I much prefer the quiet life. The attention is like a whirlwind and there is nothing you can do with it.

"But you grow up a bit and realise you have to show people why they should be talking about you and hopefully I am starting to do that."

Parker has played for England Under-21s but is now looking towards the senior side, which has no shortage of options in central midfield.

He is manager Alan Curbishley's first choice in that position following the departure of captain Mark Kinsella.

Parker said: "That was a great boost. It put pressure on, too, because someone was leaving who had done fantastically well for the club. I have got to prove I can fill the gap."

Charlton's Swedish striker Mathias Svensson is likely to miss the game after damaging an ankle last week.

Everton's midfield will definitely be without Tobias Linderoth (hamstring) while Thomas Gravesen (knee) is a doubt.

Everton v Charlton

Goodison Park, tomorrow, 3pm

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