Rooney: The White Pele?

Maybe Not but He Ain't Bad!

It was a single moment played out in the dying embers of last week's dramatic Manchester Derby at Eastlands that will live long in the memory of United supporters. In trying to grab a face-saving, last gasp equalizer City found themselves caught on the break with even their keeper Joe Hart racing back desperately from a corner.

As Ryan Giggs led the counter-attack towards the half-way line the home goal lay empty, but possibly not fancying an ear bashing of Govan like proportions off his manager if all went awry, Giggs instead passed responsibility to team mate Wayne Rooney. United's adopted scouser held no such fears.

As the blue side of Eastlands prayed for Rooney to misfire, Hart and Shaun Wright Philips retreated into the penalty area. From just inside the City half United's number ten shown none of the Welshman's reluctance as he clipped a delightful chipped shot that flew with a devastating certainty towards the net.

If scored it would arguably be the most famous ever Derby goal, equalling Denis Law's backheel back in 1974 that helped relegate United into division two. Across the world but most importantly in Moston, Wythenshawe, Openshawe, Failsworth, Longsight, Gorton, Stretford and all points Manchester they held their breath.

Onwards it soared......

Six years ago on 22nd October 2002, amidst crazed scenes of hysteria and emotion at Goodison Park, sixteen year old Wayne Rooney announced his arrival on the Premiership scene in unforgettable manner. A last minute wonder strike hit with such ferocity and precision past Arsenal's David Seaman that Rooney found himself being hailed as a 'white Pele'.

A Liverpool kid raised in the badlands of Croxteth, Rooney perfected his technique on uneven back streets, dribbling past imaginary defenders in the shape of lampposts, smashing a ball for endless hours against walls, bouncing it off kerbs and undoubtedly driving annoyed neighbours to despair.