Dubliner Rooney started with local side Crumlin United before switching to Stoke City in the summer of 2005.

He played 5 times during the next Championship campaign scoring 4 times with 3 of those goals coming in a final day win over Brighton & Hove Albion and at 18 became the youngest ever Potters’ hat-trick hero.

There were three loan spells during his time at the Britannia Stadium - at Yeovil Town, Chesterfield and Bury.

In 2008, Rooney made the move to Scottish football, signing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It would be a season of struggle in the SPL and despite the appointment of Terry Butcher the club were relegated.

2009/10 would be a memorable season for Caley Thistle and Rooney. Despite trailing Dundee by 15 points in January, Butcher’s side went on a 21-game unbeaten run to secure the title. He finished as divisional top scorer with 24 to his name.

He continued his goalscoring exploits in the SPL, netting 15 times the following season, adding 6 more in cup competitions.

Rooney’s fine form attracted attention from south of the border and he moved to Birmingham City in 2011.

Whilst at St Andrews he scored his first ever European goal, against NK Maribor in the Europa League.

A loan spell at Swindon Town was followed by a permanent move to Oldham Athletic.

In January 2014 SPL outfit Aberdeen came calling and Rooney was on his way back to Scotland.

After moving to Pittodrie, he was immediately amongst the goals. In February his goals helped set up a Scottish League Cup final clash with former side Inverness. The game went to a shoot-out and Rooney tucked away the decisive kick to secure the Dons’ first silverware for 19 years.

There were plenty more goals to come and by the end of 2017/18 season - his fifth with the club - Rooney had scored a total of 88.

Rooney played for the Irish under-18 side then picked up nine caps for the under-21s.

In 2016 he was selected for the full squad but has yet to make his first senior appearance.