WIGAN veteran Matt Jackson has found out the hard way that there are no old pals acts in the Premiership - despite trying his best to get the sympathy vote from Wayne Rooney.

The 34-year-old centre-half has come back into the top flight from a nine-year exile and walked into a fellow former Blue as Latics were thumped by Manchester United.

Jackson revealed he used all of his knowhow to get through that test and failed.

He said: "I tried to use the old Evertonian line with him before the game but he was still doing tricks on me.

"I told him to stop running around so much. He was about ten when I won the FA Cup final, but he wasn't having it. He didn't show much respect for an Everton pensioner. In the end I didn't see much of him, but I believe he wasn't bad."

Jackson has noticed the change for the better in the top flight since he left it, spending the past four years taking Wigan to the summit and finally getting a game in their recent tough run.

The much-travelled player said: "People keep reminding me how long it was since I played in the Premiership.

"It's become a totally different game - there are incredible levels of professionalism and skill. But you can also be rewarded for honest endeavour."

Jackson - and boss Paul Jewell - believe the countdown for survival starts against Charlton today.

Jewell said: "We need five more wins and we'll get them."