Wayne Rooney and I'm A Celeb star wife Coleen go head-to-head in TV ratings battle as he faces former Man Utd team-mate

11/21/2024 05:30 PM

WAYNE ROONEY and wife Coleen go head-to-head on TV tonight in a bid to conquer their jungles.

While Coleen stars on ITV's I'm a Celeb in the Aussie outback, 10,000 miles away Rooney can edge Plymouth away from the Championship drop zone by beating Watford live on Sky Sports. 

The legendary Manchester United striker, 39,  is also facing a number of hazards himself as Pilgrims boss.

Argyle are geographically an outpost, have one of the league's smallest budgets  and their main ambition this season is simply to survive.

Yet Rooney is winning over hearts and minds in the city with his down-to-earth, man-of-the-people approach.

Whether it is singing karaoke with fans, dining out in the city, or visiting boozers for a few pints, he has immersed himself in Devon life.

A club source told SunSport: "Wayne has really bought into Plymouth.

"He's not come down to be a boss who hides away in his apartment — but wants to  feel completely connected to the fans and everything going on."

Due to Plymouth's remote location in the south-west of England, Rooney has introduced starting some away journeys two days before matches.

He likes to stop off halfway to games on Thursday to train before continuing the journey on Friday ahead of a Saturday fixture.

This has not led to a win on the road yet but Home Park is becoming a mini fortress with just one league defeat.

The ex-England star still takes part in training himself — and has left   players open-mouthed with his skills.

Rooney often likes talking to his stars and staff about movies, holidays, family life, food and is always sharing little anecdotes away from the game.

While we get to see Coleen up close in the jungle, Roo is now making  a behind-the-scenes  documentary about managing Plymouth.

It has not yet been decided which platform it will be screened on.

But the Argyle gaffer said: "It's going to be great for the club. We have cameras everywhere from a club point of view anyway, so it's not anything new.

"They won't be here every single day and minute. It will give good insight for the fans."

Rooney's ex-United team-mate and best pal Tom Cleverley — with whom he won the Premier League in 2013 — is Watford boss.

He serves a touchline ban tonight but hit out at critics who reckon Rooney underachieved as gaffer at Derby, DC United and Birmingham.

Cleverley, 35, said: "We'll catch up before and after as friends. He was one of the best players I've seen  and I'm happy to see us both trying to work our magic as coaches.

"It's harsh to say he underachieved."