Everton right to offer former star a career-saving olive branch

After ditching Everton for the Etihad in a deal worth £12m nearly two years ago, Jack Rodwell’s career has stalled faster than a 17-year-old on their maiden driving lesson.

Having promised so much as a precocious midfielder for his boyhood club, Rodwell made the brave decision to jump the Goodison Park nest at 21-years-old to join the star-studded ranks of then champions Manchester City in the summer of 2012.

However, much like the ill-fated move of former Swansea and Chelsea flyer Scott Sinclair, the ex-Evertonian’s burgeoning career has stopped dead in its tracks at City.

Although affected by a string of hamstring injuries, a tally of just 18 appearances since joining the Citizens says it all for the 23-year-old who had been touted as an England regular when breaking through the Everton ranks.

A price of 25/1 to make the World Cup squad may as well be 100/1 now though, as Rodwell has slipped even further down the Etihad pecking order under Manuel Pellegrini, making just eight appearances this season.

Luckily for Rodders, help could well be at hand in the shape of his former club after Toffees boss Roberto Martinez made initial enquiries over his availability in the recent January transfer window.

At the time, wrangling over City loanee Gareth Barry’s permanent future proved a distraction but since Everton’s top four bid has slipped away – where the seventh-place Merseysiders are now 20/1 shots – it’s believed Martinez is intent on going back for his man this summer.

In an attempt to bolster his stocks sufficiently to maintain a tilt at the first four Premier League berths next season, this would be a great move for all parties.

Given a chance to shine again, Rodwell could yet get both his club and international career back on track at Goodison, where he feels most comfortable.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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