Ex-Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn opens up on his debut for the club - and incredible Wayne Rooney story
Martyn Waghorn opens up on his incredible debut for the club.
Every debut is different, but former Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn’s first taste of top-flight football was pure chaos.
Speaking on the Undr the Cosh podcast, he recalled a turbulent Christmas that led to his unexpected Boxing Day debut for the Black Cats, under the management of Irish Manchester United legend Roy Keane, against the Red Devils themselves.
The conversation started with co-host Chris Brown asking whether it was the Irishman who first promoted him to the first team, which sent Waghorn spiralling back to a Christmas he would never forget. Christmas time is often one of the more hectic periods for Premier League players, as the schedule can be gruelling to say the least.
Although Waghorn clarified that this is not the case for upcoming youngsters, saying: “In the academy, you break up for Christmas, don’t you? On like the 20th or something.”
Having just pocketed £450 from Dwight Yorke, Waghorn was excited for a Christmas splurge. “I’m thinking, Christmas is going to be class this year.” While excited about the upcoming break, his Christmas spirit was quickly killed by a call-up to the first team. Waghorn was pulled into the games room by backroom staffer Kevin Ball, who said: “‘You’ve got to stay behind over Christmas, they (first team) need another body.’ I’m thinking, ‘I just got 450 quid, I was going to go out,’” he said.
“I was going to buy a new iPod shuffle or something. Get some new tunes.” Following a few days of training with the first team, and a Christmas dinner with his aunt, Waghorn joined the squad at a hotel, where they often stayed ahead of home games. Although he was confused by the lack of communication from the management.
“He’s (Keane) not said a peep to me the whole five days. Christmas day – nothing.” Waghorn mentioned that due to his call-up, he had to perform a song in front of the rest of the squad, a common ritual for welcoming new additions to any team. But he did so with a special guest. “I think me and Hendo (Jordan Henderson) sung Ray-J One Wish or something as a duet”.
However, the icy glare of Roy Keane made Waghorn regret his song choice. “It’s a ropey one really, looking back at it now. I wish I just sang 500 miles or whatever it is,” he said. The following morning, Waghorn was taken aback by the normality of the situation, saying: “Next morning, like breakfast – normal. Not a peep.”
That was until Roy Keane’s right-hand man Tony Loughlan sparked up a conversation with the youngster, asking if he was having a good time, which Waghorn did not think much about: “I was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m having a great time, cheers.’ I didn’t know what to tell him; it was Christmas. Top man, thanks very much. And he goes, ‘All right, great, enjoy today, whatever experience it is.’ I was like, yeah, sound.” Then, in the locker room, everything changed.
“At 12:15, he flips the board over. I’m up top with Kenwyne Jones, like, starting,” he said. “And I’ve not had a conversation with the manager once,” Waghorn said, before sharing some insight into Roy Keane’s instructions right before kick-off: “I don’t care how good you are on the ball. You’re a young lad. Work hard, and that’s all I can ask of you. That’s all I want from you.”
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The instructions from the former Manchester United captain seem to have worked, as Waghorn put in an impressive performance, alongside some of the biggest names in world football. “I got voted man of the match for Sunderland and Rooney got man of the match for United.”
Waghorn went on to explain that they had to wait for interviews together, and as a Manchester United supporter, he suddenly found himself lost for words next to one of his heroes, setting up an awkward encounter. “I was like, ‘Well played, Rooney. I captained you on my fantasy team today; you got me 46 points.’ And he was like, ‘Brilliant.’” “I was like a 17-year-old kid, Wayne Rooney stood next to me. I just man-marked Ronaldo pretty much all the second half. I got elbowed by Vidić in the face,” he said, before adding that the debut was perfect in spite of the result.
“I had the ultimate debut: elbowed, chased Ronaldo, spoke to Rooney, got 46 points in Fantasy Football,” he said. “Got beat 5-0, but I didn’t give a scooby.”