Smiling Wayne Rooney poses with fans after flying into Heathrow as he prepares for talks with Derby County about joining them as a player-coach

 

  • Wayne Rooney could return to English football as Derby County player-coach
  • Rooney smiled for pictures with fans after arriving at Heathrow on Tuesday
  • Former England and Man United captain has been in talks with the Rams
  • The 33-year-old striker has been playing for MLS side DC United since 2018

Wayne Rooney has touched down back in England as he looks poised to make an astonishing return to English football as a player-coach with Derby County.

The former Manchester United striker smiled for pictures with fellow travellers as he waited for his luggage at Heathrow Airport.

Dressed in a grey tracksuit, Rooney cut a low-profile as he completed the first leg of his journey from the United States.

Wayne Rooney has his picture taken with a fan after arriving at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday

Wayne Rooney has his picture taken with a fan after arriving at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday

Rooney arrived early on Tuesday morning ahead of his astonishing return to English football

Rooney (right) smiles for a picture with a fan while on his flight to England on Monday

Rooney (right) smiles for a picture with a fan while on his flight to England on Monday

Rooney is in talks over a player-coach role at Championship club Derby County

Rooney is in talks over a player-coach role at Championship club Derby Count

The forward is 13 months into a three-year contract with DC United in Major League Soccer but he flew to England on Monday night and is expected to finalise a move to Pride Park on Tuesday.

Rooney has immersed himself in US life but has been planning for many months how to make the next step in his career by moving into management.

He is contracted to DC United until next year but is keen to push through a move after his agent, Paul Stretford, held preliminary talks with Derby owner Mel Morris.

There were suggestions that he could move back in January but Sportsmail understands he may now cancel his contract with DC United and move before the close of the summer window.

Rooney takes a free-kick during DC United's Major League Soccer game with Philadelphia

Rooney takes a free-kick during DC United’s Major League Soccer game with Philadelphia

Derby County owner Mel Morris has held talks with Rooney over the player-coach role

Derby County owner Mel Morris has held talks with Rooney over the player-coach role

The 33-year-old was impressed by the opportunity Frank Lampard received at Derby last season and is interested in a player-coach role at last season’s Championship play-off finalists.

Derby began their campaign last night with a 2-1 win at Huddersfield and manager Phillip Cocu was asked about Rooney after the match.

‘At the moment I can’t say anything. We are working on completing the team and we said it was not complete yet,’ said the former Barcelona player.

‘It’s true we’re working to get the team done but I can’t say anything about names before things are done.

‘There are a few more days, hopefully something more can happen.’

Morris welcomes new manager Phillip Cocu to Pride Park earlier this summer

Morris welcomes new manager Phillip Cocu to Pride Park earlier this summer

 

source:dailymail