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Kai Rooney, son of Manchester United icon Wayne, has dropped a major hint that he could make his bow at Old Trafford tonight.

The 16-year-old has been turning out for the club's under-18s side this season despite his tender age. He's teased that he might feature in Friday evening's FA Youth Cup clash against Derby County at Old Trafford.

Posting on Instagram before the fixture, Rooney Jr shared a snap of himself as a youngster strolling around the Old Trafford turf with his father during the 2014/15 campaign. He captioned it "OT" alongside a red heart and eyes emoji.

Whilst under-18s games typically take place at either Leigh Sports Village or Carrington, major fixtures like FA Youth Cup ties get shifted to Old Trafford. The Theatre of Dreams is free this weekend as United's senior squad travel to Arsenal on Sunday.

Discussing the prospect of Kai following his dad's path, Coleen Rooney told the Mirror back in 2024 : "We've never pressured them into even playing football. We've always just let them decide what they want to do.

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"My eight-year-old was playing and doing really well, but then decided he didn't want to, and that's OK.

"I think they sometimes get pressure off other people, you know. People approach them now and then if we're out, they do say, 'Are you are as good as your dad?'"

"Kai says 'I'm a different type of player'. You've got to let them know that you don't have to follow and to be your own person."

Coleen also disclosed during her stint on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2024, how Wayne Rooney was prohibited from watching Kai's matches early in his footballing journey.

"That's the thing with kids I think, it's hard to go on days out," she explained. "Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games, when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn't even watch the game.

"How do you say to all of these kids, 'Go away, I'm watching my son? Adults, it's different, you could speak to them.

"So he (Kai) just said, 'Oh, dad there's no point you coming because you don't even watch me play anyway.' Which is sad, but it can't be helped anyway.

At the same time, the fans help you along the way and get you where you are."

United's Youth Cup clash with Derby represents the fourth round proper. United last claimed the trophy back in 2022 when they defeated Nottingham Forest in the final.

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