Plymouth match-winner Michael Obafemi was told to ‘get on and rating’ by Wayne Rooney before doing exactly that on Tuesday night.
The striker got here off the bench to grab the winner for Argyle as they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Home Park in a Championship basement battle.
Obafemi replaced Andre Gray for the ultimate 20 minutes with the match still goalless.
He needed just 12 to make the difference, though, as he capitalised on a mistake from Regan Poole to attain with only his third touch within the 82nd minute.
After the match, Obafemi was asked what Plymouth boss Rooney had said to him before he got here on.
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The 24-year-old, who was named player of the match, revealed to Sky Sports that the easy and clear instruction: “Get on and rating.”
He added: “He’s an important guy and I appreciate all the recommendation he’s been giving me. Thankfully, I could reward the team and him today.”
Obafemi’s strike is just his second for the club since signing on loan from Burnley in August.
He previously found the online within the 2-1 home win over Blackburn in October.
His strike on Tuesday also ended a four-match winless run for the Pilgrims, dating back to that victory over Rovers.
It also lifts Plymouth out of the Championship relegation zone with their fourth win of the season.
Argyle move up two places to twentieth, having leapfrogged Luton and Preston ahead of their matches on Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, Pompey remain rooted to the foot of the table on their return to the second tier.
One other win this weekend could see his side climb into the highest half depending on results elsewhere between now and Saturday.
Rooney might be hoping Obafemi can proceed his scoring form away to the manager’s old side Derby on Saturday.
The previous Rams boss spent almost two years in charge at Pride Park after initially serving as caretaker manager through the 2020/21 season.
