Hat-trick Rooney boots bookies

THE bookies were confident they were on a winner. But teenage football sensation Wayne Rooney had other ideas.

Thousands of Manchester United fans decided to back their faith in their £30m signing with hard cash and have a punt on him marking his debut with a hat-trick.

The fact that he had not played a competitive game since fracturing a bone in his foot playing for England in the summer Euro 2004 championships appeared to be a factor in the bookies' favour.

But nothing seems to be beyond the talents of the wonderkid, and he turned on the style to score three in Manchester United's 6-2 mauling of their Turkish opposition Fenerbahce in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

Betting firms say it has cost them millions, even at the not-so-generous odds of 20-1.

Coral took several thousand bets on a Rooney hat-trick and are calling it their worst result in the history of the Champions League.

Spokesman Simon Clare said: 'Thousands of Manchester United fans piled their cash on a Rooney hat-trick and we thought it was money for old rope.

'When his third goal went in we turned off all the lights in head office to save the electricity. Punters will be turning up with wheelbarrows to collect their winnings.'

The company has slashed the odds on Rooney being voted European Player of the Year from 50-1 to 12-1. He is also down from 40-1 to 10-1 to be the top Champions League goalscorer.