Wayne Rooney watches son Kai in a Manchester United youth game - as he prepares to jet off to the I'm A Celeb jungle in just days

Published: 09:39 EDT, 3 November 2026 | Updated: 09:43 EDT, 3 November 2026 Wayne Rooney was ever the proud father as he watched his son Kai playing a Manchester United youth game on Tuesday. The former footballer, 41, is said to be jetting off to Australia soon to lead the lineup for this year's series of I'm A Celeb. However he is making sure that he fulfills his supportive parenting duties before he heads down under. Watching in the crowd, Wayne supported his eldest son, 17, as Kai's team played against AS Roma at Leigh Sports Village. Freshly shaven, the star continued to show off his recent glowed-up appearance in a navy baseball cap and black jacket. Wayne has already emerged as the early favourite to win this year's show – as he follows in the footsteps of his wife Coleen, who appeared on the show back in 2024. Wayne Rooney watched his son Kai in a Manchester United youth game on Tuesday - as he prepares to jet off to the I'm A Celeb jungle in just days Watching in the crowd, Wayne watched as Kai's team played against AS Roma at Leigh Sports Village The show kicks off on November 16 - so Wayne will be heading out soon to acclimatize and start filmingAccording to odds by William Hill, the sports star is already in the lead to be crowned King of the Jungle, with his odds at 11/4. Comedian Leigh Francis, Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page and social media star Sharky are all joint-second with odds of 6/1, with Chloe Burrows completing the top five with her odds at 9/1. Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: 'There's a decent bit of pressure on Wayne Rooney to deliver in the Jungle, particularly with Coleen having come so close to winning the show in 2024. 'At 11/4, he's made a strong start in the betting and is the early name to beat.'At the other end of the market, Mariella Frostrup (25/1) and Leomie Anderson (20/1) are the least-fancied selections from this year's crop.The favourite ITV show is returning this month with ITV confirming the series will kick off on Monday, November 16 at 9pm.Completing the series line-up is Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, Paralympian and TV star Ade Adepitan, Big Brother host AJ Odudu, soap star Claire Sweeney and comedian Jack Skipper. Wayne is set to have bagged the show's biggest fee in its 24-year history. Freshly-shaven, the star continued to show off his recent glowed-up appearance in a navy baseball cap and black jacketWayne has already emerged as the early favourite to win this year's show - as he follows in the footsteps of his wife Coleen, who appeared on the show back in 2024. He is making sure that he fulfills his supportive parenting duties before he heads down underBosses have reportedly offered the former footballer more than Coleen, 40, who made a record-breaking £1.5million for her jungle stint two years ago. Last year, Wayne spoke about how he wanted to appear on I'm A Celebrity.He said: '[I'm A Celebrity] is something I would never say no to, of course. I think I said on the aftershow when Coleen was in the jungle, that was the one we've always watched and the one we both said if there was anything we'd do it'd be that.'So, you never know in the future, but I've got other things I'm looking at at the minute.'