The England international has not been capped since 2013 but still believes he has what it takes to make it internationally.
It could be fair to say that Jack Rodwell’s career has nearly come to a complete stop, at club level let alone at international level.
The out-of-favour Sunderland man, who has featured only three times for the Black Cats this term, is hoping to secure a move away this January, with Celtic emerging as potential suitors.
The former Premier League champion has won three caps for England, making his debut as a 20-year-old back in 2011. However, he has not received an international call-up since 2013.
“I do believe I’m a Premier League player and I do believe I am an England international when I’m fit and on form,” Rodwell told the Daily Mail.
“Whether I have to take a backwards step first to prove that, I’m open to it, if that’s what it takes I will do whatever to get back.”
By taking a ‘backwards’ step, is the former Manchester City player hinting that at a move to the Scottish Premiership?
As it stands, with Sunderland in pole position to go down to League One, a move to Celtic would most definitely not be a backwards step, as he would surely earn a move to the Premier League more easily from Parkhead than he currently would at the Stadium of Light.
Either way, with Rodwell suggesting he would flourish if given the chance to play centre-half, this may increase his appeal to Brendan Rodgers, who is in the market for a central defender.
The Scottish league may be the exact safe environment for Rodwell to develop his trade as a defender. Take Nir Bitton as an example. Usually a commanding central midfielder, when deployed in the heart of defence as a make shift centre-back the Israeli has held his own against Scottish opposition, earning the trust of his manager in an entirely new position.
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