DERBY County manager Wayne Rooney won just about everything there is to win during the course of his playing career. A man of that pedigree in football had plenty of respect for Middlesbrough’s gem Isaiah Jones’ inspiring performance against Derby County and says the winger has a bright future in the game.  

Jones laid on three goals in the first half to effectively inflict the damage on the relegation threatened away side. It takes his assist tally in the Championship to eight for the season.

“I respect him as a player. He’s a very good player” said Rooney.

“The two own goals and the third goal, from Middlesbrough’s point of view is a good goal. From ours, there’s things we can look at. That’s why I take responsibility for the defeat. The balance, the way we set up wasn’t right.

“We felt that we could hurt them and it’s a compliment to Jones that we know he goes forward, we know he’s aggressive with how he goes forward and we could utilise the space he leaves behind. Obviously that didn’t pay off.”

Djed Spence is currently out on loan at Nottingham Forest playing in a similar position at right wing back and is catching the eye with plenty of speculation linking him with a move to several Premier League sides.

Rooney admits that it doesn’t seem like that much of a gamble now to send out Spence on loan due to the current performances of Jones.

“The biggest compliment to him is that Middlesbrough let a very good player go out on loan in the same position.

“Spence is a very good player. Jones is a good player so I think that’s a compliment to Jones.

“He’s a good player. He’s got a bright future and hopefully, not for Derby’s sake, but hopefully for the lad he can really kick on.”