Wayne Rooney says stunning Everton goal from his own half is his best ever after hat-trick against West Ham

Rooney scored his third goal of the night from his own half on a memorable night at Goodison Park

The former England captain scored from inside his own-half (Getty)

Wayne Rooney has hailed the third goal of his first-ever hat-trick for Everton as the best goal he has ever scored.

Rooney scored from his own half by catching Joe Hart off his line after the West Ham United goalkeeper had rushed out to close down Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Hart dispossessed Calvert-Lewin with a sliding tackle but only diverted the ball into the path of Rooney, who had time and space to shoot.

Rooney drilled an inch-perfect strike first-time and despite the best efforts of defender Angelo Ogbonna to intercept the effort with his hand, it glided into the open net.

When asked by BT Sport whether he had ever scored a better goal, Rooney said: “I don't think so. It's one of if not the best goal I've ever scored.

“I think I hit it as well as I've ever kicked a football. To make it my third goal, my first hat-trick for Everton, I'm delighted.”

Rooney, Everton’s stand-in captain for the night, had already put his side 2-0 ahead with a brace before his third came midway through the second half.

The 32-year-old saw a penalty saved by Hart in the opening stages but scored a cushioned header from the rebound, then doubled his tally with a slide finish shortly after.

An Ashley Williams header rounded off Everton’s 4-0 win, which lifted caretaker manager David Unsworth’s struggling side to 13th in the Premier League table.

The win will be Unsworth’s final game in temporary charge, with former England manager Sam Allardyce set to be confirmed as the club’s permanent manager on Thursday.