Wayne Rooney’s Derby debut overshadowed by teammates

Derby insist all their players will be paid following reports they did not receive their latest wages which were due in their bank accounts on New Year’s Eve.

The Championship club had been expecting a new investment deal to be completed before the end of December.

However, that had not been signed off which caused a delay in the salary payments.

But a Derby spokesperson said all outstanding wages would be paid.

It had been reported by the Daily Mail that Derby’s playing staff had been told of the delay, while the club have responded by insisting it is ‘not a major issue’.

It is understood cash from the new investment had been expected on New Year’s Eve, but there had been a delay due to the holiday period.

Club owner and chairman Mel Morris revealed in May that he was working to bring in new investment and it was reported that he has been in talks with a consortium headed by Henry Gabay, the co-founder and chairman of Duet Group, an asset management company.

This has somewhat overshadowed Wayne Rooney’s return to English football with the Manchester United and England legend set to make his Rams debut when they take on Barnsley tonight.

He took his place in the dugout as coach at the end of November for the home draw against QPR, but has not been eligible to play until the opening of the transfer window on January 1.

Following Derby’s prior match against Charlton on December 30, Morris told talkSPORT of his excitement to see Rooney make his debut.

Read Also:Nani: I was never in Ronaldo and Rooney’s shadow at Man Utd

Morris said: “It will be fantastic to see Wayne playing here – it will be a big, big occasion for us.

“It will be a great game and it has lifted the whole town; you could hear them singing Wayne’s name tonight so it will be a big lift for us.