Kai Rooney set for Old Trafford bow but dad Wayne is banned from watching Man Utd clash

View 3 Images

Kai Rooney could finally follow in his dad's footsteps by debuting at Old Trafford next month. The 15-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been turning heads at academy level, showcasing his skills both as a centre-forward and on the wing.

However, due to his age, he hasn't yet had the chance to play on the hallowed turf of the Theatre of Dreams. This could all change come December, when Darren Fletcher's Under-18s squad face off against Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

Last season, the team were denied the opportunity to play at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the competition, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos looking to cut costs across the board, according to the Daily Mail . Instead, the match was held at Leigh Sports Village.

This time around, however, the United youth team have been given the go-ahead to play the match at Old Trafford. This could provide the perfect stage for Rooney to make his much-anticipated debut at the stadium, given that he is part of Fletcher's group, reports the Manchester Evening News .

Rooney is currently nearing the end of his recovery from an injury that has kept him out of action for most of the season. He managed just two appearances this term before suffering the setback in September.

In recent months, he has hinted at a successful recovery and has even returned to training on grass. However, it remains to be seen whether he will be fully fit in time for next month's clash.

Unfortunately, his father, Wayne, may not be able to watch him make his debut at the Stretford End. It has recently emerged that Manchester United and England legend is unable to attend his son's football matches due to his own fame.

View 3 Images

During her time on ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! last year, Wayne's wife, Coleen , revealed: "That's the thing with kids I think, it's hard to go on days out. Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn't even watch the game.

"How do you say to all of these kids, 'Go away, I'm watching my son?' Adults, it's different you could speak to them, so he [Kai] just said, 'Oh, dad there's no point you coming because you don't even watch me play anyway.'

"Which is sad, but it can't be helped anyway. At the same time, the fans help you along the way and get you where you are."

View 3 Images

Despite not being able to watch his son compete in person, Wayne has shared that he still plays a significant role in his son's development by offering advice at home. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show last month, the 40-year-old explained: "I'm quite lucky where I live as I've got a little pitch there and when the kids say, 'We're coming on the pitch', all they're gonna do is tie the balls on the top corner.

"So when I say to them when I was younger, I remember setting a little square to practice passing into it and just playing off the wall. So I'm very similar, [I tell them] 'You need to work on your speed, you need to work on your technique and control.' Otherwise, you go out and you're just like, 'Watch me hit the ball in the top corner.'".

Speaking about his son's development, he added: "He's just playing, he's a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it. Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.