When it was announced in August 2019 that Wayne Rooney’s American adventure would be coming to an end, it was met with question marks - over both Derby's direction and the England legend's career.
At 34 years of age, it was thought Rooney’s MLS move was the first step towards retirement, but he is not done yet.
He arrived at the club in November to train with the team ahead of the completion of his January switch and his impact has been noticeable.
So it was inevitable that when the FA Cup fifth round draw was made, ‘Wayne Rooney’s Derby’ would be drawn against Manchester United.
The forward did face them with Everton after leaving Old Trafford in 2017, but he remains a club legend and it will be a special moment for him to lead the Rams out to face them.
Ahead of Thursday’s tie, we sent George Pitts to Pride Park to find out how Rooney has helped lift the club...
Form: Before and after
Before his debut against Barnsley, the Rams had won just one of their last eight and were in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.
Since Rooney's debut, they have lost just three of 14, seven of those wins. Sources close to the club told Sporting Life how it is not just his ability alone that has helped them turn it around - the whole team's displays have improved tenfold due to his arrival.
Phillip Cocu's side were previously struggling to see out results and put a convincing and consistent run together, especially away from home, but Rooney's presence, as well as ability, has inspired the whole team - even to the point there were murmurs starting over the possibility of a late play-off charge at one stage.
Class on the field
Even at 34, Rooney is still a joy to watch and it often looks like he is not even breaking sweat in the Championship.
From a cool Panenka penalty kick (above) on his 500th English league appearance, to shouldering the responsibility of taking set pieces and orchestrating the team throughout the game, it is not difficult to see how influential he already is in this team.
He may have lost a yard of pace, but he makes it up with his intelligence - in positioning, small touches and awareness with what is going on around him. He is not afraid to turn on the afterburners when required either, so it is no wonder the crowd have taken to him so quickly.
Some may have questioned whether Rooney can cut it at this level, but he most definitely can and, although some saw it as a gamble for Rooney to return at this stage in the career, the same Derby source told us how he is not ready for retirement and he is still determined to play in the Premier League again.
Sky Bet Championship statistics
- Appearances: 11
- Average minutes per game: 89
- Goals: 3
- Shots per game: 1.3
- Assists: 2
- Passing accuracy per game: 81%
Position and role in the team
Rooney, as he did in his latter stages at Man United and then Everton, has moved further in the field, finding himself in a more central midfield position.
Against Fulham he was more advanced, playing in a supporting role to Martyn Waghorn but he is predominantly allowed a free central role, where he can instinctively roam throughout the game, to cover for attacking full-backs, to drop deep and get the ball from the defence or to make runs into the box.
This role allows him to use his football intelligence that 'you cannot teach', says our source, and he can dictate the play of the team.
As the above heat-map shows, he spends a lot of his time in a central/central-left, position that allows him to play a key role in this team. And, from seeing him in action, he is not the most vocal of leaders but he certainly leads by example as captain and it clearly shows.
What he also brings though is a source of inspiration in a young team. From putting an arm around them on the training ground to a pat on the shoulder in the dressing room - just imagine what that could do to an up-and-coming star's confidence, a pat on the back from Rooney.
The Rams have some promising young players coming through in the first team at the minute - Jason Knight (19), Morgan Whittaker (19) and the popular Max Bird (19) to name but a few - and Rooney's presence and experience alone is doing wonders for their career as well as lifting their current performances.
Last year they had Frank Lampard as manager and from his playing career he brought that respect and authority and, in a similar respect, they now have that with Rooney.
Helping Cocu
While some on the outside may question how County manager Cocu feels about being given Rooney as both a player and a coach, the Dutchman apparently loves it. He has his leader on the pitch, someone who he can leave to remind of their duties throughout the game.
Speaking after the draw with Fulham game, Dutchman Cocu said on what he brings to the club: "Great skill, vision, technical ability, tactically, the link between technical staff and the team, he can adapt during a game and it is always a pleasure to have someone during the game who can do it.
"What he brings to the club too, he helps the young players develop and he talks a lot individually."
As well as leadership on the field, he is also clearly there to learn in his player-coaching role, with Cocu adding: "Most of the days he sits in the coaches' office to see how we work, gives an input and we ask his opinion.
"He knows exactly how we work, how we try to play football and he can help during the game. For me, it is a pleasure to have a player of this ability, quality and also his personality in the team."
What others say about him...
Scott Parker - opposition manager
Parker, who played with Rooney for England and now manages Fulham, said after their 1-1 draw at Pride Park last month: "He has had a massive impact since he's been there, it's no surprise they have had an upturn in form that has coincided with Wayne coming to the club.
"I am just looking in from the outside but I have no doubt that when you bring a player of his calibre, not just his technique because that is clear for everyone to see, but it is clear from the mentality and being around him, driving standards and his professionalism that he is probably scooping a few up along the way.
"At times you see his quality, he has had to adapt his game but you often find the world-class players can do that, they understand they maybe cannot do what they used to but they can quickly find out a way they can still be affective and Wayne Rooney has done that."
- Watch Parker's full respoonse in the video clip, above
Martyn Waghorn - Derby team-mate on his winning mentality
"For me it has been brilliant," The 30-year-old forward recently told Derby's matchday programme.
"When he first came in he showed his quality and experience. He is another one who doesn’t like losing, you have seen that over his career in how he conducts himself on the pitch.
"He has brought that mentality in even more that we don’t lose. We never give up, we keep going. As well as just talking to players on the pitch through games and leading by example in the way he trains. You see him talking to the young kids and what a better example to learn from for the likes of Jason Knight, Louie Sibley, Max Bird, Morgan Whittaker.
"You have got Wayne Rooney on your side, learn from him and use him all you can. That will help you going forward because for me he is one of the best players English football has ever had.
"To have him at Derby County is a real privilege and when you step on the pitch you don’t want to lose because you know he will give it to you! It has been great for us and the form in the team has picked up since he has come in and that shows what he is all about.
"We need to use that and build on it and hopefully that helps for the run-in towards the end of the season."
Keith Andrews and Don Goodman - the pundits
"He has been excellent. I don't think Derby could have asked for anymore," Goodman told Sky Sports.
"He has taken them up a notch. He has been controlling things in that deeper midfield role. He has made Derby a whole lot better.
"One of the hardest things in football is going into a struggling team and making an impact. He could play anywhere and he would be effective."
Andrews added: "It's his will to win. He has been excellent.
"We spoke to him after his first game and the only thing he didn't want was to play on the right wing in the graveyard shift.
"If they can establish enough possession and have the players to find him closer to the 18-yard box, that's where I would have him.
"But I can understand him playing in different positions."
Rooney odds against Manchester United on Thursday (via Sky Bet)
- Shots on target: Evens
- To score: 9/1 first, 7/2 anytime
- To get 1+ assists: 7/2
- To be carded: 14/5
Odds correct as of 1700 GMT on 04/03/2020