Rooney sent warning as he eyes ex-Man Utd star as first Birmingham transfer

16 October 2023 , 12:06

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Rooney sent warning as he eyes ex-Man Utd star as first Birmingham transfer

Wayne Rooney has been warned he needs to make a fast start to life as Birmingham City boss to avoid fans turning against him.

Rooney was appointed to the job at St Andrew's last week in the wake of John Eustace 's surprise sacking. The Blues were sixth in the Championship, which would equal a play-off spot, when Eustace was fired by owner Tom Wagner.

NFL legend Tom Brady is also part of the ownership group at Birmingham, with the Championship side opting to change manager during the international break. Rooney has been brought in despite an underwhelming spell at DC United, who he left at the end of the MLS season.

And former Newcastle star Alan Shearer has warned the Manchester United legend that a fast start in the second tier will be critical. Rooney starts his reign with a clash against Middlesbrough, who Shearer believes will prove to be a tough test.

"He better do well. He's a huge name, we know the part that Tom Brady is there now and the influence that he may have in getting him there. But it was very harsh on Eustace, but that's football isn't it," Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast.

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"The one thing he has to do now, because of where they were when he took over, in sixth position and doing really well, he has to go in and get a very good start or it might turn pretty ugly quickly.

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Wayne Rooney has been told he needs to make a fast start to life at Birmingham (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

"But very harsh on the previous manager. His first game is up against his old team-mate Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough. It's a tough start, isn't it."

Shearer's warning comes as Rooney eyes a move for former United keeper Jack Butland. According to The Sun, the new Birmingham boss is keen to bring in a new goalkeeper as he looks to move on high-earner Neil Etheridge.

Butland has emerged as the first-choice option, though he only joined Rangers in the summer. The Englishman would have to push to leave Ibrox for a small sum to make the move happen in January.

Michael Beale talked Butland into moving to Scotland, though he has now been sacked, opening the door to a potential departure. But given the keeper has impress, Rangers will be reluctant to let him leave so soon.

Butland does have a close connection to Birmingham though, having come through the club's academy. He starred between the sticks for Blues, before joining fellow Midlands side Stoke in 2013.

Rooney knows Butland from their time with England, playing together in a win over France in 2013. Like Rooney, Butland also spent time at United, filling the role of back-up keeper last season.

Jacob Leeks