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Kai Rooney came off the bench to play at Old Trafford for the first time with his dad, Wayne, watching from the stands, as Manchester United beat Derby County in the FA Youth Cup on Friday night.
The 16-year-old right winger replaced defender Godwill Kukonki in the 99th minute with the fourth-round tie goalless in extra-time.
An own goal from Derby defender Luca Crolla moments later and a finish from United striker Chido Obi in the space of three minutes settled the match to set up a fifth-round clash with Oxford United next month.
But it was also a special moment for the Rooney family. The United teenager’s parents watched on from the director’s box as their eldest son made his bow at the stadium where his father became a club legend.
The academy starlet posted a picture earlier in the day on Instagram of him as a child alongside his dad on the Old Trafford pitch, which was a hint he was going to be involved for Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s.
Wayne sat alongside new first-team head coach Michael Carrick and coach Jonny Evans in the directors’ box, with his wife Coleen also in attendance.
There were some chants of “Rooney, Rooney” from the crowd of just over 2,000 inside Old Trafford when he made his entrance and he was immediately involved with some nice touches on the right side before a James Overy cross led to the opener.
Rooney scored his second goal for the U18s this season in a Premier League Cup win over Birmingham City last month and continues to play for both this side and the U16s after overcoming a an injury earlier in the campaign. Now he can hope for a more appearances in this competition.
Max Nessling did pull one back for Derby in the second half of extra time but the night wasn’t spoiled for United or the Rooney family.