UFC star Molly McCann picks all-time Everton XI ahead of Merseyside derby - 'I want to apologise to our Wayne Rooney'

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Ahead of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday, Toffees fan Molly McCann has selected her all-time Everton XI – and there are plenty of surprises. The UFC star picked Wayne Rooney at central midfield, but did not hand the England international the captaincy. Instead, McCann chose to hand Australia and Everton legend Tim Cahill the captain's armband.

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UFC star Molly McCann has revealed her all-time Everton XI ahead of , and she made a surprising captaincy selection that could leave one Premier League icon with a bruised ego.

Wayne Rooney is a Toffees legend, having come through the academy to make 117 appearances across two spells at Goodison Park, scoring 28 goals.

However, the striker missed out on the captaincy, with McCann instead opting to hand the armband to the iconic Australian midfielder Tim Cahill.

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The 34-year-old strawweight's beloved Everton will face local rivals Liverpool live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Wednesday, and she included current stars James Tarkowski and Seamus Coleman in her side.

"So my Everton top 11, I am going classic 4-4-2, we are just going to hoof it up top and hope for the best," she said.

"In goal, Big Nev, our Neville Southall.

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"I also just want to apologise to Jordan Pickford, I know you are the absolute boy, you really are, but Big Nev now, and then when you finish, it will be you.

"Centre-back on the right, I am going James Tarkowski, I just love him and I think he has been a good captain for us now.

"Centre-back on the left, I am going Phil Jagielka.

"I admire Jags because he just never really looked like that much of an athlete, but he could pace it everywhere and score them absolute blinder goals whenever you needed them.

"Just because he is one of my favourite players of all time, understands the badge, understands the dressing room, our Seamus Coleman.

"60 grand, 60 grand Seamus Coleman.

Molly McCann

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"Leighton Baines at left-back and going up to left midfield, Steven Pienaar.

"Central midfield, because there are too many up top that I want to pick, I am going [to] just drop Wayne Rooney in there because he can play wherever he wants.

"On his other side, I'll have Tim Cahill, and on the right side of midfield, Andrei Kanchelskis.

"Up top, obviously our boy Dixie Dean and big Duncan Ferguson.

"As manager, it is Howard Kendall, and for the captain, I just want to personally apologise to our Wayne, but I am giving it to Cahill."

Everton are on a run of three consecutive wins under new manager David Moyes, and head into the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in 16th place.

However, they will still face a tough test against the league leaders, who will be out for revenge after losing just their fourth game across all competitions this term against Plymouth on Sunday.

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