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Wayne Rooney is set to make his return to English football on Thursday when Derby County face Barnsley in the Championship.
The former England captain signed an 18-month deal to become player-coach with the Rams in August, but has been ineligible to play until the start of the January transfer window.
The 34-year-old has not featured since DC United’s Major League Soccer play-off campaign came to an end in October, yet could be pressed into immediate action for a Derby side missing both Krystian Bielik and Tom Lawrence through suspension.
“If a player with the qualities, career and the experience of Rooney (is available), you have to be very happy and glad he is here, so I don’t need a suspension to consider him in the XI to be honest,” coach Phillip Cocu said. “He’s fit, he can start but he will need a few games. Expectation will be high when he starts playing but we have to give him a few games to build up his minutes and get in the team.
“So maybe not perfect from the start, but it’s important he will get in the team as soon as possible so we get a certain shape in our team.”
Created with Sketch.
Created with Sketch.
1/18 Breakthrough goal - 2002
Five days before his 17th birthday, Wayne Rooney scored a wonder goal against Arsenal in 2002 as the world realised his talent.
Getty
2/18 Switch to United - 2004
A £25.6m fee was soon agreed with Manchester United - despite interest from Newcastle - as Rooney switched Goodison Park for Old Trafford in 2004.
Getty
3/18 On the international stage - 2004
It got better for the powerful striker when he scored four goals in as many matches at Euro 2004.
Getty
4/18 The stunning goals continue - 2005
It wasn't long before Rooney had become a mainstay in Sir Alex Ferguson's United side, typified by his olley against Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Getty
5/18 The red mist descends - 2006
Always a cantankerous player, Rooney's demons haunted him at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as he was sent off for a stamp against Portugal.
Getty
6/18 First of many titles - 2007
Rooney had to wait until 2007 for his first taste of Premier League glory, scoring 14 goals as United lifted the title in 2008.
Getty
7/18 European glory - 2008
A year later, Rooney was invaluable to Ferguson again as the north west outfit defeated Chelsea in Moscow on penalties to win the Champions League.
Getty
8/18 Controversy returns - 2010
As England struggled to a 0-0 draw against Algeria in South Africa, the former Everton striker told supporters exactly what he thought about them into camera.
Getty
9/18 World Cup woe - 2012
Despite finally scoring for England at a World Cup in 2014, Rooney was unable to prevent a torrid group stage exit under Roy Hodgson in Brazil.
Getty
10/18 Contract talks - 2012
Rooney twice risked incurring the wrath of Ferguson during their time together, famously truning down a contract offer and threatening to leave until better terms were presented.
Getty
11/18 Success continues - 2013
In Ferguson's final season in charge, Rooney helped lift another Premier League title in 2013 alongside strike partner Robin van Persie.
Getty
12/18 Record breaker - 2015
In 2015, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record with his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland.
Getty
13/18 Switch to midfield - 2016
As Rooney began to age, then-United manager Louis van Gaal switched Rooney into midfielder where he helped the club lift the FA Cup in the Dutchman's last game in charge.
Getty
14/18 Mourinho era begins - 2017
Rooney lifts the League Cup trophy, the first major success under Jose Mourinho.
Getty
15/18 Record breaker, again - 2017
Rooney became United's all-time top goalscorer, beating Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing record, after a last-gasp equaliser at Stoke City
Getty
16/18 European triumph - 2017
Rooney comes on in the closing minutes as United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League.
Getty
17/18 Return to Goodison - 2017
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Stoke at Goodison Park, his first goal after returning to Everton (AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
18/18 Retirement from international football - 2017
The England captain hangs up his boots in September 2017. "Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me," he said. "But I believe now is the time to bow out."
Getty
1/18 Breakthrough goal - 2002
Five days before his 17th birthday, Wayne Rooney scored a wonder goal against Arsenal in 2002 as the world realised his talent.
Getty
2/18 Switch to United - 2004
A £25.6m fee was soon agreed with Manchester United - despite interest from Newcastle - as Rooney switched Goodison Park for Old Trafford in 2004.
Getty
3/18 On the international stage - 2004
It got better for the powerful striker when he scored four goals in as many matches at Euro 2004.
Getty
4/18 The stunning goals continue - 2005
It wasn't long before Rooney had become a mainstay in Sir Alex Ferguson's United side, typified by his olley against Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Getty
5/18 The red mist descends - 2006
Always a cantankerous player, Rooney's demons haunted him at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as he was sent off for a stamp against Portugal.
Getty
6/18 First of many titles - 2007
Rooney had to wait until 2007 for his first taste of Premier League glory, scoring 14 goals as United lifted the title in 2008.
Getty
7/18 European glory - 2008
A year later, Rooney was invaluable to Ferguson again as the north west outfit defeated Chelsea in Moscow on penalties to win the Champions League.
Getty
8/18 Controversy returns - 2010
As England struggled to a 0-0 draw against Algeria in South Africa, the former Everton striker told supporters exactly what he thought about them into camera.
Getty
9/18 World Cup woe - 2012
Despite finally scoring for England at a World Cup in 2014, Rooney was unable to prevent a torrid group stage exit under Roy Hodgson in Brazil.
Getty
10/18 Contract talks - 2012
Rooney twice risked incurring the wrath of Ferguson during their time together, famously truning down a contract offer and threatening to leave until better terms were presented.
Getty
11/18 Success continues - 2013
In Ferguson's final season in charge, Rooney helped lift another Premier League title in 2013 alongside strike partner Robin van Persie.
Getty
12/18 Record breaker - 2015
In 2015, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record with his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland.
Getty
13/18 Switch to midfield - 2016
As Rooney began to age, then-United manager Louis van Gaal switched Rooney into midfielder where he helped the club lift the FA Cup in the Dutchman's last game in charge.
Getty
14/18 Mourinho era begins - 2017
Rooney lifts the League Cup trophy, the first major success under Jose Mourinho.
Getty
15/18 Record breaker, again - 2017
Rooney became United's all-time top goalscorer, beating Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing record, after a last-gasp equaliser at Stoke City
Getty
16/18 European triumph - 2017
Rooney comes on in the closing minutes as United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League.
Getty
17/18 Return to Goodison - 2017
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Stoke at Goodison Park, his first goal after returning to Everton (AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
18/18 Retirement from international football - 2017
The England captain hangs up his boots in September 2017. "Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me," he said. "But I believe now is the time to bow out."
Getty
Derby will be looking to Rooney for a spark in the second half of the season, having endured a seven-game winless run before beating Charlton 2-1 on Monday.
Thursday’s game will pit them against a Barnsley side unbeaten in five but still stuck in the relegation zone.
“Recently we’ve been doing well and picking up points,” midfielder Alex Mowatt said. “They’re games that we probably would have lost earlier on in the season. We’ve been picking up points or getting a late winner, so it’s nice to get some points even if we’re not playing as well.
“There’s a togetherness as a team and wanting to win or draw games.”