Sunderland reportedly want a player Steven Gerrard said was ‘better’ than Rodwell

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It is easy to forget now that, long before he took up permanent residency on the Sunderland treatment table, Jack Rodwell was the bright young hope of English football.

But, despite being labelled the second coming of Wayne Rooney during his formative years at Everton, this one-time wonderkid was still played off the park by another fresh-faced midfielder born just 20 miles down the road Rodwell’s Southport birthplace.

“He has been superb,” Steven Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo after his hat-trick saw off Rodwell’s Everton at Anfield.

The subject of the legend’s praise? A 23-year-old Jay Spearing.

“He was up against Jack Rodwell. People talk about him as a £25million player and England’s future, well I think Jay more than matched him if not was better than him.

“Jay is growing, he’s getting better and better and has a massive future at this club. We’re really pleased to have him. He’s such an unselfish player who keeps it ticking.

“You have to play with him to appreciate him. He’s a top lad.”

Like Rodwell, Spearing failed to make the grade at the top end of the Premier League and, before long, found himself in the third-tier of English football.

But that is where the similarities end.

Rodwell, the money-hoovering, injury-prone flop of all flops, only has himself to blame for securing a place in Sunderland folklore for all the wrong reasons.

In stark contrast, Spearing, as is his way, simply got his head down, seized the captain’s armband and ensured that, when his contract at Blackpool expired a fortnight ago, he was departing Bloomfield Road a hero.

According to the Northern Echo, a reunion with his former Bolton Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson is on the cards with Sunderland holding talks with the 31-year-old free agent.

Though Spearing would only have to do the bare minimum if he wants to outdo his former Merseyside derby sparring partner Rodwell on Wearside.

‘Bare minimum’, however, are two words that have no place in Spearing’s lexicon.