CHAMPIONSHIPBy Ben Pound

WAYNE Rooney has hailed the influence of young midfielder Max Bird, who the former England captain described as a “fantastic footballer”.The 20-year-old Bird has gone from strength to strength since making his first-team debut for Derby back in 2017, and Rooney believes he now has a crucial role to play for the Rams.Rooney, who has helped take interim charge following the departure of Phillip Cocu, said: “Max is a quality player. For someone of his age, he has a lot of qualities and brings a calmness to the side.“He’s a clever...