Duncan Ferguson faced Wayne Rooney in training-ground boxing match and one man 'hid away'

Duncan Ferguson squared off against Wayne Rooney in an impromptu boxing match where one of them ended up "hiding away".

A boyhood Everton fan, Rooney grew up idolising Ferguson, who had two playing spells with the Toffees and has also been on the coaching staff and even caretaker manager.

Rooney, having written to Ferguson when he was jailed for an on-pitch headbutt, became teammates with him in 2002.

The Scot would later receive an invite to Rooney's wedding in 2008 and Rooney played in Ferguson's testimonial at Goodison Park even though he was United captain.

But many years before had a spar at the Everton training ground - and it was the England legend who landed the better offence.

Despite Ferguson being viewed as one of the most feared and toughest footballers in history, Rooney's boxing background as a youngster saw him get the upper hand.

"I do remember us putting on the boxing gloves one day and having a spar," Ferguson admitted to the Daily Mail.

"We were in the gym lifting weights. It was an off-the-cuff thing and I have to say he was a handy fighter.

"I remember getting punched right in the forehead by him. He was wearing the right glove and I was the one hiding away.

"We only did it once - I never wanted to do it again. Like I say, he was handy."

Duncan Ferguson and Wayne Rooney had a training ground spar. Image: Getty

So many have talked about the terrifying presence Ferguson, with Roy Keane confessing that he used "stay away from him” during games and Alan Shearer calling him "the hardest player I’ve come across".

Duncan Ferguson fought England international at Everton's training ground

But Ferguson also revealed he took a pasting from another Liverpudlian who grew up boxing, in the Everton training ground gym. Anthony Gordon, who made his debut under him, went to a local boxing club, and his skills were too much for Ferguson to handle in a playful spar.

“He was as fit as a fiddle and took diet seriously but was still going to different boxing gyms and sparring," Ferguson recalled in his book, ‘Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography'. ‘You have to stop,’ I told Anthony, ‘You can’t go to them, you’ll get hurt’.

“He battered me once in the Finch Farm (Everton training ground) gym. I had a pair of boxing gloves on, he didn’t. And I didn't do it again. Anthony’s a bright lad, knows what he wants and is dedicated and lightning quick.”