New Zealand international forward Ben Waine says he’s relishing the chance to learn from goalscoring great Wayne Rooney who has become his manager at English Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
“I wasn’t really here too much in pre-season, but the times I have been here, to pick his brain a bit in terms of finishing and just being a goalscoring striker has been amazing,” Waine has told the Plymouth Herald.
Waine (23) has been getting to know Rooney since rejoining the club after spells on international duty with the All Whites at the OFC Nations Cup, and with the OlyWhites at the Paris Olympics.
Main photo: Ben Waine … eager to learn from one of the great players. Photo credit: Plymouth Argyle.
“If he sees something that he thinks he can affect or whatever, whether it’s a type of technique or a certain finish, he will say something, but then he’s more than happy to take questions if I feel like I need to work on something, or something doesn’t feel quite right so it goes both ways which is really nice.”
Rooney (38) scored 120 goals for England and 183 goals for Manchester United before making the transition from player to manager.
Rooney left Waine out of Argyle’s season opener, a 4-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, but named him in the starting line-up for the Carabao Cup tie against Cheltenham Town.
Waine rewarded his manager’s decision with the opening goal in a 3-0 win.
WATCH: All White Ben Waine scores for Plymouth Argyle in cup tie >>>>
Four of his seven goals have been in the cup for Argyle since joining them from the Wellington Phoenix in January 2023.
“I don’t know what it is about cups, it was the same back home as well. I can’t complain about that,” he told the Plymouth Herald.
Instead of Waine playing in his usual role as an out-and-out striker, Rooney played him on the left of an attacking trio.
“Obviously, it’s not a natural position for me to play in that 10 role and I was kind of getting coached a little bit through the game, but it’s also an exciting challenge,” Waine said.
“I’m learning a new role, and that role will potentially help me play as a nine if I do feature there for this team as well.”
Waine came off the bench in Argyle’s second English Championship game, a 1-1 draw at home against Hull City.
This story was first published on August 19, 2024.
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