5 Jan 2011

Rooney seeks deal with Major League Soccer

9:29 am on 5 January 2011

John Rooney, the younger brother of England and Manchester United forward Wayne, will take part in trials for Major League Soccer, hoping to find a deal alongside David Beckham in the North American league.

Rooney was listed among the foreign guest players in the annual MLS Combine, four days of trial matches largely involving university players hoping to enter the MLS draft, which allocates players to clubs, later in January.

Like his more famous brother, the 20-year-old Rooney started his career in the youth system at Everton but made his professional debut for lower division club Macclesfield Town.

The attacking midfielder had trained with MLS teams Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers during the autumn of 2010 and will now come under the eye of scouts in Florida.