Rod of iron MOYES: JACK HAS BEEN HAMSTRUNG BY INJURY... BUT HE’S A REAL TALENT AND I’LL BE TOUGH TO GET HIM RIGHT
ADAVID MOYES is ready to crack the whip at Jack Rodwell in a desperate bid to rescue the Sunderland midfielder’s career. New Black Cats boss Moyes saw Rodwell as a future England captain when he handed him his Everton debut at 16. And Moyes reckons Rodwell’s £12million move from Goodi son to Manchester City, in 2012, was a mistake. But he believes the biggest problem for Rodwell, 25, has been a history of hamstring injuries and a fear that he can’t overcome them. Rodwell, who won three England caps, made only 25 league and cup appearances in two years with City before Gus Poyet took him to Sunderland – where he has now been for the same length of time – in a £10m deal. But Rodwell has failed to nail a regular place, due to a lack of fitness and form, and Moyes (right) said: “I hope I can help him.
“Jack was a boy who was really highly regarded. He looked as if he had the makings of an England regular in central defence or midfield.
“I’m not too sure if the move he made was the right one, when he went to Man City, and I think that stalled him. But, more importantly, he was probably stalled by his injuries.
“He had a couple of injuries at the end of his time at Everton as well with his hamstrings and he’s had real problems with them. But Jack knows how I work – I’ll probably whip him harder than I will whip the others because I know what he’s capable of and I need to get him right.
“That’s probably what Jack needs as well. He needs to realise, ‘Come on now, you’ve got to really come up to the plate and see if you can do it’.
“He’s a technically gifted player and he needs to really get over the thoughts that his body can’t cope. His body can cope – because he’s a great athlete.’’
Moy e s dr aw s comparisons in ability between Rodwell and Everton’s £ 50m Manchester City target, England defender John Stones.
He added: “There are a lot of similarities with him and John Stones in their early style. John could play as a defensive midfielder as well and Jack is a bit like that.
“But Jack has an ability to run forward – he gets in the box and can get a few goals. We need to find out about Jack again, really.’’
Moyes also wants to “shock’’ Black Cats owner Ellis Short – by making relegation battles a thing of the past and by introducing a ‘wow’ factor to Wearside. US billionaire Short has seen his side survive the drop in each of the last four seasons and Moyes said: “He’s never really seen his team be successful. So, let’s see if I can shock him into doing something which makes him think, ‘ Wow!’
“He’s put a lot of money into this club and, if you’re a manager, you can only ask that your chairman supports you.’’