Wayne Rooney has always been a “fiery” character and was once sent off in an U14s game for “fighting”, former team-mate Tom Heaton has revealed.

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• First caught the eye on Everton's books
• Passion always a big part of his game
• No stranger to picking up the odd dismissal

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ex-England captain Rooney recently collected the first red card of his managerial career when being sent from the dugout in Plymouth’s dramatic Championship win over Blackburn. He collected eight red cards in his playing days – six at club level and two for the Three Lions.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rooney was well versed in dismissals by the time that he reached senior level, with passion being an important part of his game from a young age. He was never one to back down from a challenge, with frustration boiling over at regular intervals from the moment that he first began to make a name for himself in Everton’s academy system.

• WHAT HEATON SAID

  Veteran goalkeeper Heaton, who spent time in the youth ranks with Wrexham and the Red Devils, has told United’s of his early dealings with Rooney: "I played against him a number of times when he was at Everton. We were obviously the same age and he was even more wild when he was younger, I think!

  "I can remember now, we played away, I think we were U14s or U15s, and him and our centre half were fighting on the pitch – and I literally mean fighting! Both got red cards, so I sort of knew of him at the time. He was obviously an incredible player with incredible ability, but he also had that fiery temperament, so yeah, [I've got] some real interesting memories of him."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Rooney hung up his boots in 2021 – allowing him to open a coaching career that has taken in spells at Derby, D.C. United, Birmingham and Plymouth – while Heaton, who is also 38 years of age, is still under contract during his second stint as a back-up option at United.

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