Wayne Rooney to appear in Everton shirt during testimonial at Goodison Park

Once a blue, always a blue.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will don an Everton strip once again after confirming he'll appear in Duncan Ferguson's testimonial match at Goodison Park.

Rooney, who last played for the Toffees in 2004 before Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to Old Trafford, confirmed his participation in the Aug. 2 match on his Facebook page.

The 30-year-old praised the tall Scottish forward and spoke of the impact Ferguson had on his career as young football player:

My big mate Duncan Ferguson has announced his testimonial match against Villarreal at 3pm on August 2nd at Goodison and has asked me to play. I am pleased to say that I will make an appearance to support one of my footballing heroes. As a young player at the club he was an inspiration and when I broke into the first team he helped and looked after me. I can't think of a better way to thank him for all his help at the beginning of my career, if he hadn’t asked me I would have gone and supported him on the day as I am sure most other Evertonians will!

Duncan shared a similar sentiment about Rooney, whom he played with for two seasons.

“I'm absolutely delighted that the wee man has agreed to play in the game," he said on Everton's website.

"Everybody knows that we go way back. I knew him as a kid, he's a top man and I'm proud as his friend that he's fulfilled the potential we always knew was there.

"Wayne's a world-class player and I'm genuinely thrilled that he will play on the day, just as I'm so grateful to the Club for putting on this game."