Wayne Rooney says it was “frustrating” to see James Garner sign for Nottingham Forest rather than Derby County this summer.
The Manchester United midfielder is back at the City Ground for a second loan spell after proving a big hit last season.
Garner spent the second half of last term with the Reds and established himself as a key player in Chris Hughton’s side.
Forest were always keen for him to return on loan, but faced a fight to secure his signature - with the Rams among those battling to win that particular race.
Rooney says seven players Derby were interested in ended up going elsewhere, including Garner.
And his focus now is on trying to prevent the 20-year-old from having an influence, should he play, when the East Midlands enemies meet at Pride Park for the Saturday lunchtime showdown - after he found the net for the Reds in last term’s 1-1 draw, in February.
Asked if he had been interested in Garner, Rooney told DerbyshireLive: "Not just him. I have seen seven players now who have been ready to come into the club who have moved on elsewhere because obviously we can't do anything.
"That is very frustrating because I know James is a fantastic talent, a lot of ability and it's a shame we couldn't get him in.
"He has gone back to Forest. He played very well for them last season. Now we have to make sure we do everything we can to make sure he doesn't influence the game the way he can do."
Garner recently said heading back to the Reds was always in his mind this summer, amid plenty of suitors.
“It is tough. You’ve got a lot of people ringing you and messaging you, and you see a lot of stuff on social media,” he told NottinghamshireLive. “But ultimately the decision is down to me.
“People can try to persuade me, but the decision is down to me, and I always had Forest in the back of my head - coming off the back of last season and the progress I made here.
“There’s going to be people wanting me to go to wherever they want me to go to! Likewise, here.
“But I always had Forest in the back of my mind.”
