5 Unforgettable Wayne Rooney Moments in the Manchester Derby

With a Manchester derby against City approaching on Sunday, Wayne Rooney's focus will barely be on celebrating his 30th birthday on Saturday.

Now England's record goalscorer and second-equal all-time Premier League marksman, Rooney is also the highest scorer in Manchester derbies with 11 goals.

And while some pundits have been heavily critical of the United striker this season—and his upcoming 30s only likely to intensify the critics—he will be hoping that the tension of a local derby against the league leaders can recapture some of his past form and silence the doubters.

It's been nearly 11 years since Rooney appeared in his first Manchester derby, coming on as a second-half substitute for Paul Scholes at Old Trafford in November 2004. In that time he's seen more than his fair share of drama, intrigue and the intensity of the local rivalry.

So, as a birthday present to Wayne, we at Bleacher Report have taken a look at Rooney's derby-day appearances to pick out five of the England striker's best and most memorable moments against City.

5. City 0-2 United (February 2005)

PAUL BARKER/Getty Images

Rooney's first derby goal came away at City in February of the 2004-05 season as United tried to maintain pressure on league leaders Chelsea.

At the same end where Steve McManaman had earlier spurned a golden chance to put the home side in front, Rooney pounced on a low cross by Gary Neville to put United in front.

They doubled their lead 10 minutes later through Richard Dunne's own goal to secure the points but finished the league in third place behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

4. City 2-3 United (December 2012)

JON SUPER/Associated Press

Rooney's first-half brace put United out to an early 2-0 lead in front of City's fans, but it took some heroics from Robin van Persie to rescue the points after the home side fought back late on.

His first was almost in slow motion, an awkward finish through the legs of Gareth Barry after Ashley Young's burst down the left, but his second was more assured, sweeping home Rafael's low cross to celebrate in front of the home crowd.

Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta scored in the second half to level the scores, but Van Persie's dramatic stoppage-time free-kick was enough to earn United the three points en route to the Premier League title in Alex Ferguson's last year in charge.

3. United 4-3 City (September 2009)

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

It might have seemed easy for United after just two minutes, but what followed was one of the greatest games in Premier League history.

Rooney fought past the challenges of two defenders to put the hosts in front after just 112 seconds after a pass from Patrice Evra.

Gareth Barry equalised 10 minutes later, but two goals each from Darren Fletcher and Craig Bellamy (whose second came in stoppage time) had this derby destined for a draw.

But up stepped Michael Owen, sliding home a Ryan Giggs pass after six minutes of injury time to secure an unforgettable 4-3 win for United over their city rivals.

Per the BBC, Alex Ferguson described the match as "probably...the best derby of all time", while his view was reinforced by a fan vote selecting the game as the best in the Premier League's first 20 seasons.

2. United 3-1 City (January 2010)

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Just as City were developing into a major force in English football, Rooney delivered a crushing blow to their hopes of reaching a final at Wembley for the first time in three decades.

The visitors had been undone by Owen's stoppage-time winner at the same ground earlier that season, and they were again defeated by a last-gasp dagger as Rooney nodded home a Ryan Giggs cross with the League Cup semi-final headed for extra time.

City won the first leg 2-1, and while Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick turned the tie on its head in the second half, Carlos Tevez scored on his return to Old Trafford with 15 minutes to play to even the scores at 3-3 on aggregate.

Enter Rooney, whose goal put United into a Wembley final they would win 2-1 against Aston Villa.

1. United 2-1 City (February 2011)

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

As far as memorable derby moments for Wayne Rooney go, nothing else could come close to this.

With Arsenal, Chelsea and City lurking, the second derby of 2010-11 was a key one in United's march to the title after falling to their first loss of the season a week earlier against Wolves.

Nani and David Silva exchanged goals, but Rooney's 78th-minute overhead kick from a deflected Nani cross was the snapshot for which the 2-1 win will never be forgotten.

He admitted the goal was his best ever in his post-match interview, and the fans agreed, voting the volley as the Premier League's best goal at the end of the following season.

And for fans of the 2015 edition, there are perhaps some encouraging words in Paul Hayward's recap for the Guardian who wrote that "...fame invaded his world and turned him from a teenage prodigy into a careworn star who has recently looked a bit like a burnt-out case. Then, in a Manchester derby, he rose again to revive those far-off days."