Think about going into your work’s canteen for a espresso and Wayne Rooney is sitting proper there.
He’s not simply visiting. Initially, he’s there to be your companion within the engine room.
After that he’ll be your gaffer. A world-renowned figurehead to guide you thru some darkish occasions.
It appears like some bizarre dream after an evening on the sauce.
However that’s what occurred to Graeme Shinnie at Derby County.
And it most likely nearly sums up a loopy three years for the Scot, which additionally concerned Frank Lampard, a last-day survival from the drop, administration – and being bought to assist hold County afloat.
However that first sighting of Manchester United and England’s all-time prime scorer takes some beating.
“After I heard he was coming to Derby, I believed: ‘It might probably’t be true, it have to be only a hearsay,’” says Shinnie.
“Then I went to get a espresso within the canteen someday and he’s sitting there. I simply thought: ‘Wow.’
“Soccer’s a mad sport. So mad that it begins to really feel regular taking part in with Wayne Rooney.”
Shinnie had been tempted south by one other England legend, ex-Chelsea midfielder Lampard.
At that time, the Rams have been a sport away from the Premier League.
By the point he arrived within the Midlands from Aberdeen, they’d misplaced within the play-offs and Lampard had develop into gaffer at Stamford Bridge.
So it wasn’t a simple begin for the previous Scotland midfielder.
Ultimately he discovered his ft although. And when Rooney turned up in 2020, Shinnie was awestruck.
In an unique interview with MailSport , he admitted: “It was surreal. I grew up watching him on TV.
“Me and my brother Andrew used to like Manchester United.
“Clearly once I signed for the membership, it was for Lampard.
“After I met him and was speaking about soccer, it was unusual to suppose: ‘That is my job and that is my supervisor.’
“You may’t grovel at these guys’ ft and act like a brilliant fan. You need to be skilled.
“It was the identical with Wayne. It would solely be once I end up, I’ll realise what it means to have performed with somebody like Rooney.
“His legs had gone a bit at Derby however his technical capacity and the way he managed video games have been a pleasure to look at. To play alongside him was unimaginable. He used to say to me: ‘You simply do my working and let me have the ball.’
“I used to be fairly proud of that! That’s my type of sport. I’ll at all times savour these moments as a result of I obtained to play with a legend of the sport.
“Wayne is only a regular man – you suppose these persons are totally different however they’re not. We’d play Name of Responsibility collectively and you possibly can converse to him about something.
“If I referred to as him now he’d chat away. He’s a prime man who desires the perfect for you.
“And he was an important a part of holding the Rams workers going by means of administration.
“Individuals didn’t know in the event that they’d lose their jobs or not however he’d be completely sincere with them.”
Survival has been the thrill phrase at Derby for 2 years.
In 2020/21, with Shinnie on the coronary heart of their midfield, they stayed within the Championship on the final day of the season to guard
individuals’s livelihoods.
However little did they know, a yr later the membership’s very existence could be below menace.
After being hit with a 21-point deduction final time period they dropped into League One – regardless of a valiant effort from Rooney and his gamers.
For Shinnie, it simply added to the entire character-building expertise.
He mentioned: “It’s been a whirlwind three years. After I obtained right here, I needed to combat for my place. It was a troublesome time.
“I’d go to away grounds and sit within the stand. One sport I didn’t even make the first-team squad.
“However individuals in Scotland know that I by no means hand over. Ultimately, I obtained my likelihood in opposition to Luton – with my brother of their workforce. It was weird.
“However I obtained man of the match and the followers might see what I used to be able to.
“I performed eight video games then tore my hamstring tendon, my first ever damage.
“Then once I got here again, Rooney had signed so I used to be preventing for one spot.
“That season was most likely even more durable. If we’d been relegated, it was on us as gamers.
“I’ve by no means felt stress like these previous couple of video games, when it comes to taking it residence with me and overthinking issues.
“We stayed up on the final day however I didn’t have a good time. It was extra necessary for the workers. I might see the reduction on their faces that they’d stored their jobs.
“However they clearly didn’t know what was coming subsequent.
“Final season was up there with the toughest occasions I’ve confronted in soccer.
“We did pre-season with seven trialists and 5 of them have been within the workforce.
“Then the day earlier than our first league sport in opposition to Huddersfield, we have been advised we couldn’t signal anybody.
“That was a bombshell, simply loopy – I’d by no means skilled something prefer it earlier than.
“We patched a workforce collectively and managed to get a draw.
“However the entire season was like that.
“It will get to some extent the place you’d say: ‘Proper, let’s simply focus on the soccer.’
“However then one thing else would occur to smack you within the face once more. It was one low blow after one other.
“Nevertheless it was top-of-the-line dressing-rooms I’ve ever been in – due to what we have been going by means of, all of us caught collectively.
“The supervisor (Rooney) led that from the highest. His message was: ‘In the event you’re in it, I’m in it with you.’ We would have liked that as a result of we needed to cope with so many setbacks.”
The truth that Derby have been nonetheless battling relegation till the tip of the marketing campaign regardless of the 21-point deduction is testomony to how nicely they carried out.
However, by then, Shinnie was gone.
Wigan Athletic have been capable of snap him up in January for a paltry £30,000 as a result of Derby wanted the money.
Shinnie was in a horrible place of not wanting to depart – however eager to assist the membership survive.
He mentioned: “It was laborious on the time. I like Derby and had nice relationships with the supervisor, workers and followers.
“And the transfer occurred so rapidly.
“My spouse and children moved again to Scotland and it was unsettling.
“On the Friday, I used to be advised concerning the switch. By Sunday I used to be having my medical and on Monday I skilled with Wigan. The membership wanted it financially. And, for me, it was laborious to show down a long-term contract.
“I didn’t wish to depart, I’m a fighter and I’d have cherished to remain on.
“However Derby removed me and others which most likely stored them going till the tip of the season.
“It was a mad state of affairs – however that’s life. There are individuals going by means of more durable occasions than me.
“I’ve at all times been a resilient individual anyway.
“However the final couple of years have positively made me stronger as a result of I’ve obtained life expertise that I didn’t have earlier than.
“And if it occurs sooner or later I’ll know I can cope with it.”