Revealed! The surprising role Jack Rodwell played in Jerome Sinclair's Sunderland move

That will come as a surprise to supporters given how Rodwell’s disastrous spell on Wearside ended, having become an outcast and ending last season training away from the first team before agreeing to cancel his contract a year early.

Sinclair, who has signed on a season-long loan from Premier League Watford, didn’t need any persuasion before joining Sunderland but did take advice from former players Younes Kaboul and Rodwell.

Kaboul joined Watford two summers ago, while Rodwell is currently on trial with the Hornets as he attempts to win a contract and rebuild his career and reputation.

“I spoke to Younes [Kaboul] and also Jack Rodwell too, they only had good things to say about the club,” revealed Sinclair.

“I didn’t take any persuasion. I spoke to the manager too, his style of play and how he wants to do things this year and that played a big part in me wanting to come here.”

When pressed on what advice Rodwell offered, Sinclair added: “Yes, he had a lot of good things to say about Sunderland. He told me it was a real people’s club and I would be looked after.

“Although things may not have worked out for him in the way he would have liked, he certainly had no grudges against the club - he only had good things to say about the club.”

Earlier this summer, chairman Stewart Donald said Rodwell and his representative had been ‘very sensible’ in agreeing to cancel his contract a year early.

Rodwell would have been on £40,000 a week in League One had he remained at the club.

Rodwell trained away from the first team in the final months of his disastrous spell on Wearside after telling Chris Coleman he did not want to play for the club and turning down a January move to the Eredivisie.