Graeme Shinnie reveals surreal Wayne Rooney moment at Derby as he lifts lid on turbulent three years

Imagine going into your work’s canteen for a coffee and Wayne Rooney is sitting right there.

He’s not just visiting. Initially, he’s there to be your partner in the engine room.

After that he’ll be your gaffer. A world-renowned figurehead to lead you through some dark times.

It sounds like some weird dream after a night on the sauce.

But that’s what happened to Graeme Shinnie at Derby County.

And it probably just about sums up a crazy three years for the Scot, which also involved Frank Lampard, a last-day survival from the drop, administration – and being sold to help keep County afloat.

But that first sighting of Manchester United and England’s all-time top scorer takes some beating.

“When I heard he was coming to Derby, I thought: ‘It can’t be true, it must be just a rumour,’” says Shinnie.

“Then I went to get a coffee in the canteen one day and he’s sitting there. I just thought: ‘Wow.’

“Football’s a mad game. So mad that it starts to feel normal playing with Wayne Rooney.”

Shinnie had been tempted south by another England legend, ex-Chelsea midfielder Lampard.

At that point, the Rams were a game away from the Premier League.

By the time he arrived in the Midlands from Aberdeen, they’d lost in the play-offs and Lampard had become gaffer at Stamford Bridge.

So it wasn’t an easy start for the former Scotland midfielder.

Eventually he found his feet though. And when Rooney turned up in 2020, Shinnie was awestruck.

In an exclusive interview with MailSport , he admitted: “It was surreal. I grew up watching him on TV.

“Me and my brother Andrew used to love Manchester United.

“Obviously when I signed for the club, it was for Lampard.

“When I met him and was talking about football, it was strange to think: ‘This is my