The full-back insists he did not fear for his career in the wake of a Glasgow city centre chip shop incident

Two years ago, Shaun Rooney left St Mirren by the back door after just 10 games and saw his career placed firmly on pause.

Yet the full-back has revealed he never fretted over his future in football when faced with an assault charge.

Rooney was one of three Saints players to depart the Paisley club under a cloud in the space of as many weeks.

Kevin Van Veen’s loan deal was cut short after he appeared in court on domestic abuse charges.

Jaden Brown admitted to three driving offences.

But Rooney was first to exit in the wake of a Glasgow city centre chip shop incident.

He was accused of an attack on an 18-year-old woman and also charged with breach of the peace against a man.

Rooney was eventually acquitted on both counts 12 months later.

That was a court outcome Rooney had always felt totally confident about.

He may not have been so sure about potential employers sharing that optimism while the case dragged on.

Within a matter of weeks of leaving St Mirren, however, he fielded a call from former club Fleetwood.

“This club was here for me,” said Rooney, speaking at Fleetwood’s Poolfoot Farm training complex.

“What happened at St Mirren happened. Fleetwood rang me a month later, saying they wanted to get me in.

“I had to wait until January, though, so it was a time to enjoy a few holidays. I wasn’t worried because I knew what happened that night.

“Everyone can make up their own stories. I wasn’t ‘mad with it’. I was at the Celtic game, went to the casino and tried to get a chippy.

“It all kicked off but I knew what happened so I knew, if we had the CCTV, I would be cleared.

“It was mental because obviously it was in the public eye, in the media, and it dragged out.

“St Mirren did what they had to do and that’s it.

“I don’t hold any grudges. That’s life. I went through my lawyers, they went through theirs, and that was it.”

While Rooney has found a football home on the Fylde Coast again, he admits he may not be allowed to shake off the stigma in Scotland.

Yet the ex-St Johnstone hero wouldn’t rule out a Premiership return later in his career.

“I think it would hang over you in any walk of life, but if the right club comes in for me then absolutely,” said Rooney of a return to Scotland.

“I’ve got another two years here anyway and I hope to see that out. I love it here, I’m enjoying it.

“Everyone from the chairman down is great.

“You don’t get facilities like this anywhere in Scotland other than at Celtic and Rangers.

“My family love coming to visit, it’s a family club and they feel at home.

“It’s a fit for me football-wise. I loved my first spell here, under Scott Brown, and I scored nine goals.

“There’s been chopping and changing of managers since.

“But I’ve always played when I’m fit, so I can’t really complain.”

Rooney has helped Matt Lawlor’s side reach the Caraboa Cup last-16, teeing up Tuesday’s glamour tie at home to Arsenal.

Fleetwood knocked out Chesterfield, Shrewsbury then Championship side Sheffield United to land one of the plum draws of the fourth round. Rooney said: “I was upstairs in hospitality beside the chairman – he was jumping about!

“I actually wanted the game away to experience the Emirates, a stadium I’ve never played at.

“But it will be nice for them to come to Highbury, see if the weather holds up, see if they fancy it.

“It’s totally different at Highbury. The other Saturday, the wind changed direction four times during our game.

“And we had sunshine, hailstones and rain. That’s what you get when you come to Fleetwood.

“Will they fancy it or not? Maybe knowing (Mikel) Arteta, they probably will.

“What kind of team will they put out? It doesn’t bother me who plays.

“We’re really looking forward to it – it’s mad when you think about it.

“The team that won the Premier League and Champions League runners-up coming here.

“You’re playing against top players so it will be a tough test, but an enjoyable one.

“This would be the biggest game of my career, facing the biggest names.”

Rooney returned from a foot injury to play a pivotal role in a strong finish to last season.

Fleetwood got a bounce from local hero Lawlor’s appointment, first as caretaker then on a permanent deal.

Rooney inked a new contract to extend his second stint with the club to at least 2028.

Rooney, 30, said: “I feel I’m playing my best stuff. The gaffer really talks you up on so many levels.

“He gets the best out of you by telling you what you’re good at. It was easy to extend my stay, taking everything into consideration.

“We got everything signed and sealed in three days.

“I missed a lot of games last year, I did my plantar fascia and had a stress fracture in my back.

“Hopefully I can keep myself fit and play every game this season.

“The gaffer has put me in the leadership group.

“That’s been enjoyable and it’s nice to have that trust.

“I give 100 per cent every training session, every game.

“I’ve always been that way where I wanted to be a main character, the life and soul.”