ROO CAN END THE HOODOO

Cocu is backing in-form Wayne to banish Derby’s play-off jinx

PHILLIP COCU hopes Wayne Rooney can give Derby the belief to finally end their play-off hoodoo.

The feeling is growing at Pride Park that the Rams can return to the Premier League for the first time since 2008.

But they have a miserable history of near-misses after losing in the play-offs four times in the last six seasons.

County have hit form at the ideal time with five straight Championship wins, and Rooney has been the key to their improvement.

The 34-year-old bagged his sixth goal for the club with a superb free-kick winner at Preston in midweek.

Now Rooney has Derby’s main rivals Nottingham

Forest in his sights today. Boss Cocu, whose side are seventh, seven points behind Forest, said: “First you have to make sure you get in the play-offs. It won’t be easy to end up in the top six so that is the main goal.

“But the moment we reach the play-offs, that experience and momentum as a team could be an important part.

“Then we will see how we can use the experience of myself, the staff, and of course Wayne Rooney.

“He is a great asset for our team.”

Cocu (above) had originally intended to play Rooney up front or in a No.10 role when he joined as a player-coach from MLS side DC United last year.

But the former England captain, record scorer for Manchester United, has instead excelled in a deep-lying midfield role, from where he can spray passes and dictate play. Cocu added: “He was a key player who can make the difference at the top of the Premier League and national team.

“There are only a few of those players and he is one of them so we are extremely pleased to have him.

“In my first chats with him we were talking about playing him as a striker or a No.10. It was a surprise for both of us that he ended up playing like a holding midfielder. He does it so well with his vision and passing.

“He is really important in that position.

“Sometimes later in your career you can get another position and surprise yourself.”

IN HIS HANDS Wayne Rooney is the man Derby will look to as they sit seventh SABRI LAMOUCHI reckons promotion will be won in his players’ heads as much as on the pitch. His Nottingham Forest side have picked up seven points from a possible nine since the restart to remain in the thick of the play-off race. But the Frenchman warned: “We must stay focused until the end. It’s about results, not performances. “I’ve talked to the boys and said it was about being mentally right. They are ready, they are focused.”