'Plagued by fitness issues' - Ex-Sunderland flop Jack Rodwell looking for a new club after Sheffield United release

The Blades are revamping their squad ahead of a promotion push in the Championship next season following their relegation from the Premier League.

And Rodwell is among a number of players deemed surplus to requirements.

Phil Jagielka, John Lundstram and Simon Moore will also all leave the club when their contracts expire later this summer, it has been confirmed.

James Shield, of the Sheffield Star, summed up Rodwell’s recent spell: “Rodwell has barely featured at all, having been plagued by fitness issues towards the end of his stay.”

Rodwell’s stay on Wearside ended in controversy and his time at Sunderland is not remembered fondly.

The central midfielder was a major signing for the club in the summer of 2014 but struggled to make a consistent impact and as the club dropped into the Championship, he was the only player in the squad not to have a wage reduction written into his contract.

It became a source of major contention when he made few appearances in the following campaign as the club were again relegated.

Rodwell made just six appearances, three of which were in the EFL trophy.

His last appearance came in that competition in November 2017.

Sunderland offered Rodwell the chance to walk away from his contract the following January, but it was not until the following summer that he reached an agreement with Stewart Donald to end his contract early, subsequently joining Blackburn Rovers.

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