Wayne Rooney set for unexpected Manchester United return next month

Wayne Rooney will play for the Manchester United Legends team for the first time when they face Celtic at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 7.

Rooney will return to Old Trafford to pull on the shirt 20 years after he first signed for the club from Everton, joining Bryan Robson's Legends squad alongside Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia.

The United Legends team regularly play fixtures but this is the first time Rooney, the club's record goalscorer, will feature for them. The game takes place during the September international break, which means Rooney, now manager of Championship side Plymouth Argyle, will be available.

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The game will raise funds for the Manchester United Foundation and a spokesperson said: "One of the club and country’s greatest ever players, Rooney’s name is one to transcend generations of not just United supporters, but football fans worldwide, as one of the most celebrated players to have graced the game.

"Wayne will temporarily switch the dugout for the pitch when he returns to Old Trafford as a player for the first time in seven years on 7th September – and having previously spoken of his admiration for Celtic, the Scottish side provides an apt opponent."

Rooney spent 13 years with United, scoring 253 goals in 559 games, which meant he bettered Sir Bobby Charlton's previous haul of 249 goals.

The forward went on to play for Everton, FC United and Derby County as he wound down his playing days and has made the leap into management. Plymouth is the fourth club on his CV and he joined the