SUTTON: Birmingham have taken a HUGE risk by hiring a showbiz name in Rooney

Wayne Rooney is stepping into a wonderful footballing city and one where I crossed the divide, playing for Birmingham in the first half of 2006 and for Aston Villa in the second half.

As someone who experienced Celtic versus Rangers in Glasgow, I know a fierce rivalry when I see one and there is a distinct edge to the Second City Derby.

I scored my one and only goal for Birmingham — and my 150th in the English and Scottish leagues — in a showdown with Villa and the atmosphere was enough to induce goosebumps.

But if we want to start seeing these delicious derbies again at St Andrew’s or Villa Park, Rooney has serious work to do.

It’s hard not to look at this appointment with a cynical eye. Birmingham’s owners have taken a huge risk. They have sacked a respected coach in John Eustace — brutally, I might add — and have hired a showbiz name in Rooney.

Maybe it will raise the profile of the club. Maybe it will create sponsorship opportunities. Maybe it will lead to a fly-on-the-wall series.

But will it win them promotion to the Premier League so they can finally face Villa for the first time in the top flight since 2011? That is the £200million question.

Rooney’s record at DC United does not make for enjoyable reading if you are a Birmingham fan. He will be under serious scrutiny from the moment he walks into this great city.

If Rooney can lead them to the promised land, then he will be loved. But if not, the fans will be left wondering what might have been, if only Eustace had stayed.