Ex Derby County midfielder John Harkes has claimed that Wayne Rooney has that 'coaching instinct' in him and hopes the Rams are able to get it out of him.

Harkes made over 60 appearances for the Rams over two seasons during a spell in the 1990s. He is now managing United Soccer League side Greenville Triumph.

Rooney will join Derby in January after the Major League Soccer comes to a close. He's expected to take up a player-coach role with the club and supporters will be hoping he can be just as a big a hit as Frank Lampard was.

Harkes' son, Ian, played with Rooney in Washington before moving to Scottish Club Dundee United.

Speaking to Omnisport, Harkes said: "He was coaching on and off the field.

"I remember Ian telling me there was one training session where they did a lot of fitness and Ian was a little bit shy in terms of asking him: 'Would you mind helping me with my finishing outside the box', as a midfielder breaking through the lines?

"Wayne said: 'No, of course I wouldn't'. He picked up some water and a bag of balls, they went over and he was working with my son. It was fantastic to see that attitude and work ethic that he has.

"The conversations I had with Wayne when he came to DC United early on, it was clear he was still hungry to win but also to make that transition to becoming a coach."

The Verdict

Everybody is eager to see how Rooney gets on at Derby. The experience that he'll bring to the club on and off the pitch will be sensational.

Harkes touched on Rooney's willingness to help other players out, which says it all about why the Rams have brought him in. That's the kind of attitude that players have to be willing to adopt if they're to be successful coaches.

Just like when Lampard joined, it will be of interest to the world to see how Rooney gets on. However, everything that has been said about him, coming from people who know him/played with him have suggested they can only see it being a successful move.