Jesse Lingard sends message to Wayne Rooney after Man Utd beat Derby

Jesse Lingard hailed "legend" Wayne Rooney after Manchester United beat Derby County 3-0 to progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

United's all-time top goalscorer Rooney faced his former club on Thursday night for the first time since joining Championship side Derby in January.

Rooney scored 253 goals in 559 appearances during his 13 years with the Red Devils, breaking the club record previously held by Sir Bobby Charlton.

The Rams skipper almost scored twice in Thursday's FA Cup clash but was denied both times by United keeper Sergio Romero, who brilliantly kept out two free-kicks from his ex-teammate.

For United it was job done as Luke Shaw scored just past the half-hour mark, before two goals from January signing Odion Ighalo settled the contest and earned a quarter-final trip to face Norwich City later this month.

And as United forward Lingard took to social media to hail "a good night's work", he also tipped his hat at Old Trafford icon Rooney.

Lingard tweeted: "A good nights work, onto the quarters. Always nice to see you legend @WayneRooney "

Rooney joined up with Derby in January after a season in Major League Soccer with DC United.

The 34-year-old is learning the ropes as a coach under Derby manager Phillip Cocu, but says his playing days are far from coming to an end.

"It's a different league to what I'm used to, different ambitions," Rooney told BT Sport.

"At Manchester United you're always striving to win trophies, and at Derby we're striving to win promotion.

"My role as a coach, having to balance that with playing is different. It's something I'm really enjoying.


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