BIG INTERVIEW: MAX BIRD

‘IT’S SURREAL TO BE A PART OF WAYNE’S WORLD AT THE RAMS’

- Chris Dunlavy

ZINEDINE Zidane. David Beckham. Cristiano Ronaldo. The star names drip from the tongue of Wayne Rooney like crystal pendants from a chandelier.

For Max Bird, a boyhood Manchester United fan turned Derby County teammate, it is seventh heaven.

“I was talking to Jason Knight the other day and we were saying to each other ‘Can you believe this?’”, laughs the 19-year-old.

“A few years ago I was singing Wayne’s name from the stands at Old Trafford. Now he’s sitting there, after prematch or at breakfast on the morning of an away game, and talking about playing in World Cups, against people like Messi and Zidane.

“He’s got some very good stories that he tells. We’ve found out some stuff about Alex Ferguson, about Ronaldo, little things that only a few people could know.

“It’s great because, as a fan, you don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. He’s been there and done it. Honestly, you could listen to him all day.”

Rooney, England’s all-time leading scorer, joined Derby from DC United in August but MLS commitments meant he could not play until January.

Since his debut, however, the Rams had, pre-weekend, won six and drawn two of their subsequent ten matches in league and cup.

“Wayne’s fairly quiet in and around the changing room,” adds Bird. “He speaks when he needs to, or if you ask a question. He’s a very down-to-earth guy.

“But he’s a big leader, on and off the pitch. With young players like me, he talks to us about football, but he talks to us about non-football situations as well.

Class

“On the pitch, his class speaks for itself. Just by being there, I think he gets a little bit extra out of everyone. Personally, I know when I’m playing that he trusts me to do my job on the pitch and that’s a massive confidence boost.