OBEYING THE ROOLS
Wayne: I changed team THREE times
WAYNE ROONEY admitted he didn’t know what team he could pick at chaotic Derby County until a few hours before kick-off.
The Rams boss had players on the subs’ bench he couldn’t even put on the field because that meant Ravel Morrison, who signed yesterday, would not have had a place in his limited 23-man squad.
Derby are under strict EFL rules about what they can do and how many first-team players they are allowed.
Rooney admitted: “There were young lads on the bench who didn’t know it, but they weren’t going to get a game. If they did, it would mean they’d become a member of my 23-man squad and there’d be no room for Morrison.
“I changed the team three times from Friday morning and I didn’t finally pick the side and the way we would play until just before the game.
“The fans should be proud of what the players did because it has been tough.”
Derby are battling with the EFL to be allowed more players and Rooney says it is imperative they win that argument.
“I welcome the day when there isn’t the stress,” he said. “I named the team Friday morning but that team was changed before I got back in off the training pitch when I knew players had signed.”
Richard Stearman and Curtis Davies, who had just signed one-year contracts, were chucked in as a central defensive pair and stood up to the pressure Huddersfield exerted late on.
But substitute Louie Sibley almost stole it for the Rams in added time when he forced Terriers keeper Ryan Schofield into a good save.
Rooney has been sleeping on the couch in his training ground office to be on hand while transfer negotiations have gone on.
“It’s not been ideal but it’s been needed for me to be on the spot. I was talking to Morrison and his agent until late on Friday night to get that done,” he added.
Huddersfield were weakened by four players missing the game because of Covid. Manager Carlos Corberan was absent for the same reason and first-team coach Danny Schofield said: “The manager kept in touch by phone, but he has to isolate for 10 days as the players concerned do.”
Derby took the lead in the 39th minute with the goal being credited to Davies from a Nathan Byrne corner, although the last touch seemed to come off Town’s Levi Colwill.
But the Rams were opened up by a free-kick just before half time. Sorba Thomas’ excellent dead-ball skills brought a freekick that Naby Sarr met with a powerful, close-range header.
And Rooney left for home and a well-deserved kip.
DERBY COUNTY: Roos 6; Byrne 7, Davies 8, Stearman 6, Forsyth 6; Bird 6, Shinnie 7; Jozwiak 6 (Ebosele 68, 5), Lawrence 6 (Hutchinson 90), Watson 6 (Sibley 52, 7); Kazim-Richards 6.
Unused Subs: Allsop, Cashin, Thompson, Williams. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: Schofield 6; Pearson 6, Sarr 7, Colwill 6; Turton 6, High 6, Hogg 6, Holmes 7 (Sinani 90), Thomas 7; Rhodes 5 (Campbell 63, 5), Ward 6 (Koroma 63, 5).
Unused Subs: Roxburgh, Vallejo, Brown, Jackson.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Curtis Davies. The old boy held Derby together and got a rare goal.
REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham 7.