Wayne Rooney delighted Morgan Whittaker still at Plymouth Argyle

Wayne Rooney thought Plymouth Argyle showed their ambition for the future of the club by refusing to sell Morgan Whittaker to Championship rivals Burnley on transfer deadline day.

Burnley were persistent in their late interest in the talented 23-year-old attacker but the Pilgrims stood their ground and were determined to retain the services of Whittaker. In the end they took the view that no matter what transfer fee they were offered for him, it was too late in the transfer window to find an adequate replacement.

The Clarets ended up signing Ecuador international winger Jeremy Sarmiento on a season-long loan from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion.

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Rooney said: "Burnley came back two or three times (on Friday) with different offers but I think it shows the direction the club are wanting to go in that we kept him. We made it clear we wanted him here at the club and Morgan is happy to be here so I was delighted in the end."

Whittaker was in opposition to former Argyle manager Steven Schumacher, the man who first brought him to Home Park, when the Pilgrims played Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday. He forced visiting goalkeeper Viktor Johansson into a a couple of fine saves with left-foot shots, one in each half, as the game ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Rooney said: "He was a big threat first half and showed a lot of the qualities he has. I think Stoke defended well second half against him."

While Whittaker stayed at Home Park on transfer deadline day there were two departures, both on loan to League One clubs, with left-back Saxon Earley joining Lincoln City and striker Ben Waine moving to Mansfield Town. Earley was not in Lincoln's squad for their 1-0 win away to Stevenage while Waine was a late substitute as Mansfield drew 1-1 at home to Stockport County.

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