Western Sydney Wanderers coach Carl Robinson is confident he can help import Jack Rodwell rediscover his love of the game after becoming the posterboy for excess in the English game.
The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with the club on Thursday, has been training with the Wanderers for the past two weeks awaiting visa clearance.
After an early career that promised plenty, Rodwell left Sheffield United earlier this year after playing just two competitive games since the start of 2020.
“Jack is a quality player. He’s played in the Premier League at two or three top-level clubs,” Robinson told AAP.
“I think he lost his enjoyment in football. If you speak to Jack he’s open and honest enough (to say that).
“In the UK, there’s a narrative around footballers in general.
“I said to him that he will enjoy his football, we will embrace him and we want good players in the building.
“He’s not just a massive addition for us but also to the A-League.”
Rodwell, who wasn’t included in the Wanderers’ squad to take on Sydney FC in their A-League Men season opener on Saturday, burst onto the scene with Everton before sealing a lucrative move to Manchester City.
He struggled for game time and shifted to Sunderland where he was part of a side that suffered back-to-back relegations while earning a reported weekly salary of $140,000.
He moved on to Blackburn and then Sheffield United, but the midfielder hopes a switch to Australia can revitalise his career.
“This move is really exciting for me, I’ve been looking at the opportunity to play in Australia for a couple of months and with my wife being from western Sydney, the Wanderers was the perfect destination,” said Rodwell.
“Australia is like a second home to me, it’s my favourite country on earth, it’s where my wife and her family are from; we love the place.”
Robinson hopes the introduction of the three-cap England international will be of value to the Wanderers’ younger players.
“It (being a footballer) is the best job in the world but it’s really hard,” Robinson said.
“These boys have to realise their own development. I’ve got a track record of playing young players but you need senior players around them to pass on the message.
“You need good people in your building to help the young players and Jack fits that bill.
“He has the experience of Europe and was one of the top, top players in the Premier League coming through many years ago.
“You don’t lose that overnight, you sometimes lose your way, your hunger and your enjoyment.
“But in the short period he has been here, Jack is hungry and he wants to play and I create an environment that allows the players to go and play.”
