Wayne Rooney's first big decision as Derby manager was to select a teenage captain - because he sees similarities with himself in Jason Knight.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Knight, 19, was handed the honour within hours of Rooney's permanent appointment on a two-and-a-half year deal after Scotland international David Marshall succumbed to a non-Covid virus.
Derby have won two of their three games since - including Saturday's trip to QPR - to climb out of the Championship relegation zone.
In making his choice, memories of informing Sir Alex Ferguson of his own captaincy ambitions during a tumultuous European quarter-final, first-leg defeat to Roma in April 2007 - featuring a Paul Scholes sending off in the first half and an equaliser from a 21-year-old Rooney in the second, before the hosts capitalised on their numerical advantage - came flooding back.
'He's very vocal, which is very rare for a young player these days. He gives everything in training - tackling, running. Very similar to the way I was at his age,' Rooney said.
'I was a player who believed at 20 that I should be captain of Manchester United. I told Alex Ferguson that in the Champions League against Roma away, and I know Jason Knight is exactly the same.
'He's a manager's dream. He gives everything. I said to him after the defeat to Rotherham: "Did you not play well because you had the armband on?" That was his one bad game.
'But I've never questioned age. He's the one, not just for the younger players in the dressing room but the older lads, who others can look at. He gives you energy, desire, runs non stop.
'I still want more from him quality-wise - in terms of crosses, shots, goals, assists - but in terms of what we are trying to build for this group of players he fully deserves it whether he's 19 or whether he's 30.
'To get the recognition and experience shows how highly we think of him.'
Burnley have expressed interest in the Dubliner, who was outstanding in the midweek win over promotion-chasing Bournemouth, but Rooney - who is currently operating under a transfer embargo triggered by his club's failure to pay players and staff last month - insists no sales of players he wants to keep at Pride Park will be sanctioned.