Wayne Rooney makes winning debut in Championship with Derby

Wayne Rooney enjoyed a winning debut with Championship side Derby County.

Derby County captain Wayne Rooney passes the ball while under pressure from Elliot Simoes of Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Wayne Rooney enjoyed a winning debut with Derby County as the former Manchester United star helped his Championship side to a 2-1 win against Barnsley on Friday (AEDT).

Rooney was named Derby captain for his first appearance since agreeing to join the second-tier club back in August.

United and England’s record goalscorer had been training, coaching and sitting in the dugout at Derby matches for several weeks, but Friday was the first time he had been eligible to play following his departure from Major League Soccer side DC United.

The 34-year-old, included at the expense of the suspended Krystian Bielik in the only change made by Derby boss Phillip Cocu, played the full match, despite it being his first competitive game since October.

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He set up the opening goal for Jack Marriott and was involved in Derby’s second goal, providing a pin-point diagonal pass to Andre Wisdom, whose low cross was turned home by Martyn Waghorn.

Elliot Simoes had equalised for Barnsley, but the struggling visitors couldn’t ruin Rooney’s return to English football.

Rooney’s debut coincided with Cocu’s team winning successive matches for the first time this season, but they remain 17th in the table.

“A lot of people see him as a striker and a goalscorer but his vision of the game is excellent,” Cocu said. “I like the way he plays because he is not focused on himself but he also puts other people in good positions in front of goal. He played a great game.”

Rooney said: “I think it works both ways really, they (younger players) have got great energy and I feel I can help them with my experience.

“I spoke to them a lot on the pitch about small things. I just try to be that voice on the pitch and to guide them in small details.”

A second consecutive win lifted the Rams 10 points clear of the teams in the drop zone and Rooney is already eyeing the top six.

“Looking at the league table we are eight points off the play-offs, so it is catchable. We can make the play-offs with more consistency,” he said.

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