Former DC United striker Wayne Rooney made his playing return in England last night. Playing in central midfield for his latest club Derby County against Barnsley in The Championship, the 34-year-old’s free-kick provided an assist for Jack Marriott to open the scoring from 12 yards.
But relegation strugglers Barnsley struck back to level matters before Derby County under Dutch coach Phillip Cocu clinched the points thanks to Martin Waghorn’s 57th minute winner.
Cocu had no hesitation putting Rooney into the side as captain, as soon as the former England international was available to play.
In an unremarkable first-half in front of 27,782 fans, Rooney orchestrated the play, and towards the end of the game miscued a header wide when he might have done better.