Middlesbrough v Derby County - Neil Warnock’s wise words for Wayne Rooney

He has a few words of advice to those who harbour those future hopes, including one of England’s finest strikers of all time in Wayne Rooney – be wary of others.

The 35-year-old Derby captain is the senior figure in a four-man interim management team at the club after Philip Cocu’s dismissal.

Rooney has previously expressed his desire to take the job full-time, but a decision is unlikely to be made until the takeover by Abu Dhabi royal family member Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is completed.

Boro chief Warnock commented: “It is far more difficult now and there is far more scrutiny. You have not got the trust now. When I started, I used to have the local journalists on the bus – I told them everything in confidence as I knew it would never come out.

“Now you have to be wary of everybody, it’s sad in a way. All the fans are experts and you are flavour of the month one week or dead and buried the next and all those on phone-ins are managers.

“But it is (still) a great game. People will still come into it and try and do well.”

Boro, whose key midfielder Jonny Howson has penned a contract extension committing his future until the summer of 2022, report no fresh injury issues.

Last six games: Middlesbrough DWWDDL; Derby DDDLLL.

Referee: P Bankes (Merseyside).

Last time: Middlesbrough 2 Derby 2, January 11, 2020; Championship.

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