Chris Coleman's astonishing answer when asked about Jack Rodwell

Rodwell has barely featured this season for the Black Cats, with the midfielder picking up his £70,000 a week wages for just 159 first team minutes this season.

The former England international was offered the chance to leave the club in January, but rejected the offer, and hasn't been seen in a red and white shirt since the Under-23s' game against Exeter City on February 11.

With Sunderland now relegated to League One, Coleman was asked if he would recall Rodwell to the first team for tomorrow's game at Fulham.

But he said: "I don't even know where Jack is [physically or mentally] to be honest.

"He won't be involved and I'm sure if there was a sniff of a first team appearance, I'm not sure he would be 100% fit for it.

"That's not going to be the case."

Coleman was then asked if there was any way the club could get the player off their books, despite the 26-year-old still having more than a year left on his contract.

"I'm sure we've gone down the legal route of that situation and we are stuck with a player that doesn't want to play for Sunderland football club and wants to leave," said Coleman. "But where is he going to leave and go to? That's the conundrum.

"He's got one more year on his contract and he doesn't want to play for us, so fine, go and play for somebody else, but the stumbling block is the contract.

"So we'll see at the end of the season.

"I know Jack did that article saying he anted to play for England again so to do that, he's going to have to go and play football somewhere. The proof is always in the pudding."