It's taken a monumental effort but Wayne Rooney is starting to turn the tide at Derby, as fans queue-up to pay tribute to the rookie manager after moving within nine points of safety.
The iconic striker punched the air as if he'd just scored one of his own when Tom Lawrence fired Derby's second against Sheffield United, wheeling around with a beaming smile at a job well done.
Derby were sanctioned a collective 21 Championship points – 12 for entering administration in September and nine for historical financial breaches – but have clawed themselves up into 23rd place with a hot-streak.
Four wins from their last five league games have surged Derby back into a once-distant relegation scrap, having gone seven games without a victory earlier this season.
@AlexKayJelski has been signing Rooney's praises, and was among those toasting his dedication: 'Wayne Rooney is doing such a good job in impossible circumstances. Feel like a broken record but it’s true!'
'Going to put it out there that Wayne Rooney is doing an absolutely incredible leadership job at Derby and that he should be a manager of the year candidate,' @sarm0161 added.
Manchester United fan @MUFC_redarmy99, no stranger to Rooney's magic, wrote: 'Derby have now gone from bottom of the league to 23rd after a win against Sheffield United. This is in spite of losing Phil Jagielka, their starting centre-back this week.
'They’re only 9 points off safety. Wayne Rooney is smashing it.'
Rooney was left furious as Derby were forced to cancel Jagielka's contract at Pride Park, thanks to the club's perilous financial situation.
The 36-year-old, who finished his playing career with the Derbyshire club last year, always insisted he wouldn't be abandoning ship despite the crisis that's hit the club.