Wayne Rooney’s first Premier League hat-trick, 20 years on

Today is the 20th anniversary of Wayne Rooney’s first Premier League hat-trick against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Wayne Rooney gave Manchester United an early lead in the 10th minute after receiving a precise pass from Michael Carrick. He doubled the lead six minutes later to give Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a perfect start.

In the 89th minute, Rooney finished the scoring to complete his first-ever Premier League hat-trick. It ended the 21-year-old striker’s 10-game barren run.

The 4-0 win over Bolton was an important one as Chelsea won earlier that day, so United needed the three points to keep pace at the top. Ferguson was never in doubt about Rooney, despite the youngster’s dry spell in front of goal.

Sir Alex Ferguson hit back at Wayne Rooney critics after 4-0 win over Bolton

Rooney rightly dominated the headlines after United’s 4-0 win over Bolton, although Cristiano Ronaldo scored the other goal.

The press were writing Rooney off because of his 10-game drought, backlash from the 2006 World Cup, and his spat with Ronaldo. Ferguson used Rooney’s hat-trick against Bolton to hit back at the youngster’s critics.

“It was going to happen sooner or later,” Ferguson said after the match, as per BBC Sport.

“I spoke to Wayne and told him to relax and keep concentrating.

“Once he got the first one, you could see the confidence coming back and after that, I was just hoping the ball would go to him all the time.

“There is a growing confidence within the club, we are looking very strong.”

• ⚽️ Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against Bolton in 2006 timeline
• 10th minute
• 16th minute
• 89th minute

Bolton manager at the time and friend of Ferguson, Sam Allardyce, called Rooney the best English player in the Premier League. He said: “Wayne Rooney has proved beyond doubt he’s the best English player in the Premiership.

“His hat-trick was well deserved and it just shows the people who were writing him off were talking nonsense.

“Apart from the third goal, there was very little we could do to stop him. The first two were magnificent goals made of outstanding quality.”