Wayne Rooney hopeful Derby WILL survive after January fire sale

Wayne Rooney believes his transfer window fire sale has raised the necessary money to allow his troubled Derby County to survive the season.

The Championship club has been given until the end of the month to prove to the Football League that they have the finance in place to see out the campaign.

Administrators forced Rooney to sell nine players during the transfer window, while the fact that the club is under a transfer embargo meant he was not allowed to bring anyone into Pride Park.

But, after the 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield, Rooney revealed his optimism that he has raised the cash to keep Derby going until at least the summer.

'The money has come into the club, where that goes, I don't know,' said Rooney.

'But I can ask the question. I was assured before that we had the funds to go through to the end of the season and now, to me, that looks like we have proof of funds.

'Will that lift the transfer embargo and allow me to bring in free agents? We will have to wait and see.

'The club generated quite a lot of money with nine players going out. Hopefully, that can be proof of funds until the end of the season.

'Hopefully that means the embargo will be lifted because there are still some free agents out there. Our squad is thin and I have brought in quite a lot of money over the past month.'

Rooney joked that his knowledge of the MLS means he knew that the US transfer window remains open and is one possible source of new signings.

But the Derby boss is clearly in a fighting mood and desperate to add to his depleted squad as soon as he is given the green light.

On the field, despite losing Richard Stearman after just three minutes to a straight red, Rooney remains optimistic that his team can pull off a great escape and