Jack Rodwell should have stayed at Everton, says David Moyes after Sunderland reunion

Jack Rodwell took a wrong turn in his career by swapping Everton for Manchester City at the tender age of 21, believes David Moyes.
Jack Rodwell Sunderland v Stade NyonnaisJack Rodwell Sunderland v Stade Nyonnais
Jack Rodwell Sunderland v Stade Nyonnais

But now that the pair have been reunited at Sunderland, Moyes hopes to get Rodwell’s career back on track, albeit he knows that it is up to the midfielder himself to finally fulfil the potential he demonstrated as a teenager.

Moyes gave Rodwell his first-team debut at Everton aged just 16 and he went to become a much-coveted England international at Goodison Park.

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Yet when Rodwell moved to Manchester City in 2012, his career began a downward spiral which has seen the £10million signing struggle to consistently convince during his two years at the Stadium of Light, although he has continued to be hampered by injuries.

Moyes will become the fourth Sunderland manager to attempt to turnaround the 25-year-old’s fortunes, but at least the duo know each other well.

“He has probably never really found a level of consistency.

“He had great potential as a boy, athleticism and was a very comfortable football player who could do a bit of everything,” Moyes told the Echo.

“Injuries haven’t helped him, but I also think that maybe going to Man City wasn’t the right move.

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“He made that move though, and I hoped that coming to Sunderland would maybe kick-start him.

“Again, he has been held back by injuries, but he needs to show what he can do now.

“We can give them all clever words, but it is about the here and now.

“There needs to be a driven desire to become a better player and that he will to step on to overcome difficult situations.”