HERE COMES THE WAYNE AGAIN
Brandon is planning a Rooney repeat
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE admits he wants more Rooneyesque moments after emulating the Manchester United legend’s wonder goal.
The West Brom striker saw off Stoke by scoring with an overhead kick similar to Rooney’s famous goal in the 2010 Manchester derby.
Thomas-Asante, 23, knows all about the record United and England scorer after spending three years at Salford
City, which is owned by Roo’s ex-Old Trafford team-mates and
Class of 92 legends
Gary Neville, Ryan
Giggs, Nicky Butt and
Paul Scholes.
“I think he’s everyone’s hero – what he’s done in his career is amazing,” Thomas-Asante (right) said of Rooney.
“I’ve been around the United guys at Salford as well, so he’s in your sights. I remember that goal.
I was thinking about it afterwards because his came off his shin and mine came off the end of my toe!
“The boys here were really happy and have been supportive since I’ve come here.
“Hopefully I can repay them with more moments like that.”
West Brom’s third straight win put them fourth bottom but only eight points from a play-off spot.
Thomas-Asante believes new boss Carlos Corberan can lead Albion into the top six by May with his hard-line training regime.
He said: “It’s about getting these results and really taking the league and getting back to where we want to be.
“We still want to look to be at the top and with this manager, we’ll definitely prepare for what we want to achieve. “Looking at the points difference, it’s not so far and there’s lots of time.
“We’ve all been working hard.
There are lots of long training sessions but the work we put in pays off.
“I’m sure during the break now there will be friendlies, double sessions and hard work.”
Thomas-Asante said of Corberan: “He’s a real student – a guru of the game. All the players love playing for a manager who loves the game.
“When the manager gives us advice, we know it will yield results because it’s from a place of understanding.
“On Saturday, he showed me clips of my career from two years ago, so he knows us to a really good level.
“That really helps because, when we implement what’s been told, it pays off.”
Stoke manager Alex Neil admits they will be treating the World Cup break as a chance to reboot.
The Potters sit 17th after their 10th loss of the season.
“We need a reset mentally and physically, certainly in the first week,” said Neil. “We’re going to a training camp in the second week. It’s pretty much a miniature pre-season.”