McIlory tried to nab Wayne Rooney

Sammy McIlroy has revealed he made an audacious bid to bring Wayne Rooney into his Northern Ireland set-up.

Sammy McIlroy has revealed he made an audacious bid to bring Wayne Rooney into his set-up.

He went through a third party close to the 17-year-old Everton striker to see what his thoughts were.

McIlroy was rebuffed, and Rooney is now on the brink of winning his first England cap against Australia tonight

McIlroy said: “I checked that one out actually. I won’t tell you what I got down the phone. It was spoken in strong Scouse.”