10 years on... the goal that created at Roo legend

ALL AT SEA-MAN ... Arsenal 'keeper beaten

David Unsworth

DAVID UNSWORTH came through the ranks at Everton.

And the defender played his part in the goal by nodding down Sol Campbell’s clearance to Thomas Gravesen, who played the killer pass to Rooney.

Unsworth recalled: “Everyone remembers the goal — but what about that brave header! Putting my head in among the flying boots to nod it down and set it up!

“When Wayne hit it, I was right behind and actually thought it was going over. But he’d put a bit of dip and swerve on the shot and it went in.

“Everyone knows the commentary, but it really wasn’t a surprise to anyone at Everton. We’d seen him do ridiculous things in training almost every day.

“I can still remember his first training session with the first team about 18 months earlier, when we were all thinking “who the hell is this kid.’

“But he was such a player, you rarely see talent like that. Some of the things he could do absolutely defied his years.

“You had to remind yourself he was only 16 and he already had a good understanding going with Kevin Campbell even then.”

Unsworth himself is looking for a management or coaching position having gained all his badges.

He reckons Rooney could one day return to his boyhood heroes, because he remains the same down-to-earth kid who was living the dream of pulling on the famous blue shirt.

Unsworth, 39, added: “I saw Wayne on holiday recently and he’s still a great kid. He was straight over for a natter, still the same humble lad who remembers where he’s from.”

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