Wayne Rooney vows to call on survival skills of Liverpool council estate and drag crisis club Derby out of trouble
WAYNE ROONEY vowed to fight his way out of trouble at crisis club Derby.
The Rams boss kicks of their Championship campaign after being hit by transfer sanctions.
But Rooney, 35, said: “I’m a fighter. I grew up in a council estate in Liverpool and I don’t walk away from challenges easily.
“I’m grateful to Derby for giving me my first chance in management and I want to repay them for that. These players need my help.
“I’m here, I will stay here and do everything to help this club move forward.”
Rooney made three last-gasp signings yesterday when defenders Curtis Davies and Richard Stearman and goalkeeper Ryan Allsop agreed deals.
I’m grateful to Derby for giving me my first chance in management and I want to repay them for that. These players need my help
Wayne Rooney
Ravel Morrison, Sone Aluko, Sam Baldock, Tom Carroll and Andre Wisdom have also been training with the Rams.
But Rooney said: “Don’t call them trialists because these are established league players we want in asap.
“We’re trying to bring more players in and I’ll sleep on the couch in my office again tonight so we don’t lose out.
“If that means staying here close to their hotel so I can speak to a player and nudge them over the line at midnight, I’ll do that.
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“But at the minute I can’t spend £100 on a player, let alone £100million!”
Rooney isn’t looking for sympathy ahead of his return in front of fans against Huddersfield today.
He said: “I don’t have one hand tied behind my back – I have two hands firmly in front of my face.
“Life’s great, there’s no point in getting down. Ask anyone around this building and they’ll say I’m a bubbly person.
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“We’re not underdogs. We’ve got good players and I’m expecting three points against Huddersfield.
“This will be my first proper game as a manager with fans and I’m excited about that.”
Rooney has demoted Scotland No 1 David Marshall to third-choice goalkeeper behind Kelle Roos and Allsop.