The new Sunderland coach Sam Allardyce has described his determination to assist Jack Rodwell in finding his form for the northern side. The ex-West Ham manager believes that a player of Rodwell’s quality should be playing every week.
Rodwell made his professional début for Everton when he was just sixteen, the English player made great progression through the Toffee’s academy programme.
His development was halted by numerous injuries and wasn’t helped by an unsuccessful spell at the Etihad Stadium with Man City. Rodwell signed for Sunderland under Gus Poyet for a reported £10m on a five-year contract.
Allardyce took charge of the Black Cats earlier this year after Dutchman Dick Advocaat resigned from the coaching role.
The former Bolton manager said that ‘Jack [Rodwell] is a particularly interesting case for me because I want to see the lad who played in the Premier League when he was 16, 17 and 18, which is hugely unusual. And then at 23, 24 (he has) become what seems to be a bit-part player.’
Allardyce is eager to get Rodwell’s career back on track by saying ‘I have to find out why that is with Jack and help Jack get through that and be a regular for us. It’s something that I have to try and achieve because he’s a big-money signing and we know the ability he’s got, but he seems to have lost that edge he used to have so I’ve got to try and find it and help him recreate it.’
The Sunderland coach believes that the England international’s move to Manchester is responsible for his lack of progression as a player, saying his move turned him into a squad player rather than a first team player.
Allardyce said that Man City purchased the twenty-four-year-old ‘because he was a homegrown player and they didn’t have enough.’
He also added that Rodwell ‘is where he is now and it’s my job to get him back to where we know he can be.’
Injury problems are the cause of Rodwell’s dip in both form and confidence according to Allardyce, the Sunderland coach saying ‘I see the fact that the young man is desperate to get back, so all we have to do is help him along the way now.’
Rodwell said that he would player anywhere on the pitch if it resulted in him getting regular playing time. The midfielder saying ‘I can even play in the back four if they want me to.’
Sunderland have had recent injuries with their defence which could see Rodwell make some appearances in the back line for the Black Cats, but players like Wes Brown would still be favourites.
Rodwell is fit for the Everton clash this weekend, the Briton missed out on the Tyne-Wear derby in which Sunderland snatched their first league win of the season.
