Bird Relishing Playing Alongside His Hero

Derby County midfielder Max Bird is realising a dream by playing alongside his childhood hero Wayne Rooney - but he knows he cannot be overawed by the situation.

Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner and four-time England Player of the Year, has seen it all in English football since bursting on to the scene back in 2002.

He has played in Champions League Finals, captained his country on the biggest stages and surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record for England, as well as becoming Manchester United's all-time goalscorer, just to name a few achievements.

And for 19-year-old midfielder Bird, he is relishing learning from his hero but knows he needs to take advantage of the situation.

“I am a Manchester United fan and to be playing with one of the players you have looked up to your whole childhood is a dream come true, but now you can’t waste it,” he told RamsTV.

“You have got to keep going and play with consistency, keep training well, keep your place in the team and try to impress everyone else on the training field.

“He is a legend in the game of football, but a hero for me as well.”

The pair lined up together on Rooney’s Rams debut against Barnsley as Derby kicked off 2020 with a 2-1 win at Pride Park Stadium.

Whilst Rooney’s return to English football grabbed the headlines, Bird’s performance on the night was also impressive.

He was calm on the ball, neat in possession and had a keen eye for a pass.

Bird also impressed the Sky Sports commentary team, who awarded him the Man of the Match award on the night.

And playing alongside Rooney, Bird showed maturity beyond his years by linking up and communicating with his new team-mate.

“In the Barnsley game he was telling me to do various things,” he said. “I have got to be strong and tell him what to do. Even though it is Wayne Rooney, I have still got to pull him around and tell him what to do.

“I remember Curtis Davies telling me at the start of the game: ‘just because it is Wayne Rooney don’t feel like you can’t talk to him and pull him around’.

“I’m just learning so much from him and likewise with other experienced players I am learning a lot from them too. That can only help me.”