Kai Rooney set for Old Trafford debut but Wayne can’t watch | Football | Sport

Kai Rooney could soon be making his debut on the hallowed turf of Old Trafford. The 15-year-old son of Wayne Rooney has been impressing at academy level, showcasing his skills as a centre-forward and winger, but due to his age, he hasn’t yet had the chance to play at the Manchester United home ground.

However, this could all change in December when Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s face Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. Last season, the team were denied the opportunity to play at the Theatre of Dreams due to cost-cutting measures by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, according to the Daily Mail. Instead, they played at Leigh Sports Village.

This time, however, the United youth team have been given permission to play the match at Old Trafford, potentially paving the way for Rooney’s much-anticipated debut. It comes as Rooney is nearing the end of his recovery from an injury that has kept him off the pitch for most of the season.

He made just two appearances before suffering the setback in September. Since then, he has hinted at a successful recovery and has even returned to training on grass, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fully fit in time for next month’s clash.

Unfortunately, his father, Wayne, may not be able to watch him make his debut at the Stretford End. It has recently emerged that Manchester United and England legend is unable to attend his son’s football matches due to his own fame.

During her appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! last year, Wayne’s wife, Coleen, revealed: “That’s the thing with kids I think, it’s hard to go on days out. Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn’t even watch the game.

“How do you say to all of these kids, ‘Go away, I’m watching my son?’ Adults, it’s different you could speak to them, so he [Kai] just said, ‘Oh, dad there’s no point you coming because you don’t even watch me play anyway.’ Which is sad, but it can’t be helped anyway. At the same time, the fans help you along the way and get you where you are.”

Despite not being able to watch his son compete in person, Wayne has stated that he still plays a significant role in his son’s development by offering advice at home. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show last month, the 40-year-old said: “I’m quite lucky where I live as I’ve got a little pitch there and when the kids say, ‘We’re coming on the pitch’, all they’re gonna do is tie the balls on the top corner.

“So when I say to them when I was younger, I remember setting a little square to practice passing into it and just playing off the wall. So I’m very similar, [I tell them] ‘You need to work on your speed, you need to work on your technique and control.’ Otherwise, you go out and you’re just like, ‘Watch me hit the ball in the top corner.'”

Speaking about his son’s development, he added: “He’s just playing, he’s a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it. Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well.”