Wayne Rooney's career seemed to be in limbo during his final six months at Everton.

Having waved goodbye to an incredibly successful 13 years with Manchester United, Rooney returned to his boyhood club but quickly stagnated after an impressive start at Goodison Park.Rumours suggested that Sam Allardyce's exit would persuade him to stay on Merseyside yet Rooney eventually decided that he would leave the club regardless.Despite still having potential in Europe at age 32, the Englishman decided to unwind his career out in Major League Soccer and put pen to paper on a deal with DC United.He followed in the footsteps of players such as David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to hop across the pond late in their career.

Rooney's impressive form

Nevertheless, Rooney continues to be a massive name in English football and Premier League fans have been fed gradual updates on his form in the USA recently.

Perhaps the most eye-catching highlight of his time in Washington DC proved his remarkable assist in the dramatic win over Orlando City, which quickly went viral.

And although supporters understand that Rooney is enjoying some decent form with the MLS, the full extent of his impact is less widely reported.

The Rooney effect

However, four months on from swapping Everton for DC United and the former England captain's impact on the club is looking more and more remarkable.

Although the club's turnaround can't solely be attributed to the influence of Rooney, their incredible increase in form simply cannot be a coincidence. 

Rooney was vital in the club securing a place in the Eastern Conference, bagging nine goals along the way, and the statistic difference is borderline staggering.

Check out the full comparison below:

It seems a combination of his incredible talent on the pitch and the confidence he'll bring to the rest of the team has worked wonders.

Not only that, but spending time away from the limelight has clearly done wonders for Rooney's form and the man himself has highlighted its importance.

“Everyday [normal] life is something I maybe didn’t have as a child growing up from 16 going into the first team [at Everton] and England.

“It is nice to still be playing and be able to do that. In terms of my time with my family, it’s a lot more enjoyable.

"Over here it is different to have that time and that chance to spend that bit more with them.”

And four months on, it's been a win-win for everyone involved.

Do you think Rooney left the Premier League too early? Have your say in the comments section below.