Shay Given expects Wayne Rooney to respect Manchester United when he faces his former club in a Derby County jersey this week – but thinks he will party if he scores.
Rooney is a united legend and the club’s top scorer, as well as that of England, but he will try to help eliminate his former FA Cup club when he visits Pride Park on Thursday for a fifth round draw – with the full commentary of the LIVE match on talkSPORT!
It’s not a career first for the striker / midfielder / coach who has played the Red Devils SEVEN times – although his record is not good, with zero wins and zero goals scored.
It will also be the THIRD time he has faced Man United since he left Old Trafford in 2017.
At 34, it will be a huge test for the former England captain, but he has played a vital role since joining the Rams in January as a player-coach in a deep midfielder role .
He scored four goals and collected two assists in 14 league games, after handling both the free kick and the penalty kick. So there is a chance that he can find the net.
And Derby goalkeeper coach Given has told talkSPORT that Rooney will do anything to help the Rams advance to the quarterfinals of the cup.
“We are looking forward to Thursday,” said the Irishman at the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. “It’s a huge game for everyone at Pride Park, and it’s a sold-out so it will be a fantastic evening.
“And Wayne is with us on Thursday so I hope he can do magic against Manchester United.
“He is looking forward to playing – he is really looking forward to playing against his old team.
“It’s like the stars are lining up. It’s crazy to think that he only came in January, the draw was made for the FA Cup and with all the teams that remain, we got Manchester United – it’s a bit of a fairy tale, really.
“He has a great history at Manchester United, of course, but for the 90 or 120 minutes, I’m sure he’ll want to take Derby to the next round.”
When asked if Rooney – who recently made his 500th appearance in the English football league – would be delighted if he scored his very first goal AGAINST United, Given said: “I think he probably will.
“Wayne is one of those people who loves to play football and likes to score goals and I think he will.
“I’m sure he will have respect for his old club, but in the heat of the action …
“I never really understand players who don’t celebrate, because even when I was playing on the field and scoring in training, I was doing a little knee slip, just because when the ball hits the back of the net, it’s a special feeling. “
Listen to Shay Given on talkSPORT, in full, above…