Wayne Rooney lines up for Everton against Manchester United for the first time in 14 years on Sunday, but who did he face back in 2003 aged 18?
- Wayne Rooney will line-up for Everton against Manchester United on Sunday
- It is the striker's first return to Old Trafford since rejoining Toffees in summer
- Rooney last faced United as an 18-year-old on Boxing Day 2003
- A United side without several key players beat Everton 3-2 that day
- Rooney was booked for crude challenge on future team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney returns to Old Trafford for the first time since his summer transfer from Manchester United to Everton this Sunday.
United's all-time leading goalscorer is assured of a warm welcome as he returns to the pitch he graced in United colours for 13 years.
The last time Rooney played against United was as an 18-year-old on Boxing Day 2003, during his first spell at Goodison Park.
An 18-year-old Wayne Rooney played for Everton at Manchester United on Boxing Day 2003
The young striker played 70 minutes of Everton's 3-2 defeat - the last time he faced United
Wayne Rooney slides in on Cristiano Ronaldo, earning himself a yellow card
David Bellion celebrates with Rio Ferdinand after scoring United's third goal back in 2003
The teenager played 70 minutes on that occasion, in a 3-2 United victory that took them back to the top of the Premiership ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal.
Indeed, Rooney's main contribution to proceedings was a wild lunge at Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Portuguese tried to show off some of his fancy footwork, earning a yellow card.
Sir Alex Ferguson had rested key players including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in anticipation of a hectic January schedule.
Rooney was handed a place in Everton's line-up following injuries to Tomasz Radlinski and Lee Carsley, forcing David Moyes to make changes.
Despite a slightly makeshift appearance to United's side, they took the lead after just seven minutes when Nicky Butt fired home from 20 yards.
But Everton equalised four minutes later when Thomas Gravesen's free-kick glanced off the head of Gary Neville and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Neville atoned shortly before half-time when he supplied the cross for Kleberson to restore United's lead.
And they scored a third after 68 minutes when silky skills from Ronaldo teed up David Bellion for a six-yard tap-in.
Nick Butt is left unmarked to fire home United's opening goal seven minutes in
Kleberson restores United's lead shortly before half-time in the Boxing Day encounter
David Bellion tucks home United's third goal to ensure their return to the top of the table
Cristiano Ronaldo takes on the Everton defence, including Tony Hibbert and James McFadden
John O'Shea gives Rooney the brush-off during the Boxing Day 2003 meeting at Old Trafford
Though Duncan Ferguson's late header offered Everton hope, they were unable to prevent United taking all three points.
The Old Trafford crowd were incensed by Rooney's bad challenge on Ronaldo but they would be team-mates nine months later when Rooney completed an £25.6m switch to United.
The rest is history with Rooney scoring 253 goals in 559 appearances for United, winning five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, three League Cups, the Champions League, Europa League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
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