'I grew up on a council estate': Wayne Rooney vows to persist at Derby

‘I grew up on a council estate, I don’t walk away easily’: Wayne Rooney vows to fight on at Derby amid crippling transfer embargo at Pride Park as he reveals he has been sleeping in his OFFICE as he battles to sign players for his threadbare squad

• Wayne Rooney has slept in his office as he bids to add players at troubled Derby
• The rookie coach claims he has been steeled by his council estate background
• Derby face a desperate scramble to register players ahead of the new season
• Rooney will lead his side in their Championship opener at home to Huddersfield 

Wayne Rooney has revealed that he has been sleeping on the sofa in his office at Derby’s training ground and claimed that his tough background has given him the fortitude to carry on at the troubled Championship club.

Derby have faced a desperate scramble to sign players to contracts this week ahead of their season opener at home to Huddersfield on Saturday.

As a result, Rooney has been working overtime to add more personnel to his squad after registering three players with the English Football League in time for the game at Pride Park.

Derby’s Wayne Rooney has his eye on new and returning players to add to his depleted squad

The rookie Rams manager has been sleeping at the club’s Moor Farm training ground this week

Resolute Rooney said: ‘I slept on the couch in the office last night [Thursday] and I’ll be sleeping on my couch again in my office tonight, trying to get these players over the line as quickly as possible so that we don’t lose out on them.

‘I’m a fighter. I grew up on a council estate in Liverpool – I don’t walk away from challenges easily and I’m grateful to Derby County for giving myself my first job in management.

‘I want to repay [them for] that. I want to stick by these players. They need my guidance and my help to help them get through.’ 

Rooney’s immediate targets are thought to include former Manchester United prospect Ravel Morrison, who is one of a number of players to have spent a turbulent pre-season with the Rams.

Phil Jagielka, Sone Aluko and Sam Baldock have also prepared for the campaign with Derby despite being yet to sign up, while experienced defender Curtis Davies has eased some of Rooney’s abundant concerns by signing a deal.

Rooney grew up on a council estate in Liverpool before making his breakthrough with Everton

The former Man United striker believes that his background has steeled him for testing times

Davies could be joined at the back by ex-Sheffield United defender Richard Stearman, who will be one of Rooney’s options alongside former Wycombe goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.  

Speaking about his frantic negotiations, Rooney admitted: ‘I’m hoping we can get them done. I know some of them have other offers on the table. I need to keep working to try to get them in and I will do that.’

Derby are under a partial transfer embargo from the league, although club bosses are understood to be discussing a relaxation of the conditions.

Rooney is restricted to signing players on half-season loans or single-year contracts on around £5,000 a week.

County stayed up on the final day of last season, avoiding relegation by a point before a summer exodus of players.

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