Wayne Rooney relishing Plymouth Argyle showdown against Hull City

New Plymouth Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney says he's relishing the Pilgrims' first home game of his tenure in charge against Hull City.

Argyle kick their second successive Championship season off with a visit to Sheffield Wednesday on August 11 but the Green Army will get their first look at Rooney's new-look side at Home Park when City provide the opposition the following Saturday and there's growing excitement about that occasion.

The game is a repeat of the final day showdown which saw Argyle, under the caretaker stewardship of Kevin Nancekivell and Neil Dewsnip beat the Tigers 1-0 and secure safety at the expense of Birmingham City while ending the Tigers' faint play-off hopes, but it's been all change for both clubs over the summer.

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While Argyle have appointed England and Manchester United legend Rooney, City sacked Liam Rosenior and put former Hamburg boss Tim Walter in charge.

"I'm really looking forward to the first game [at Home Park]," Rooney told reporters. "Sheffield Wednesday is the most important game at the minute, but the first home game (against City) is a chance to show the fans what we've been working on in pre-season.

"I remember coming here with Birmingham in December, and I was so impressed with the atmosphere. I've heard a lot of good things about the place and the football club. The togetherness has been outstanding.

"I want my players to play with a calmness, but with energy as well. It's important [as a Head Coach] that you keep your focus, keep your calmness, as that reflects on the players. We need to be clever in how we work.

"I’m not going to come out and say we’re going to be looking to get to the Premier League in a year’s time, we need to be realistic. What we're trying to do is build on what the club has done over the last five years, which has been rising and getting better.

"I think we need to keep moving forward and keep trying to improve and certainly improve on last season. Hopefully, at the end of a timeframe which we have in, we can get closer to that Premier League."