Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has said that he needs to help Jack Rodwell find his form and prevent him from being a "bit-part player" at the North-East club.
The 24-year-old joined the Black Cats from Manchester City last summer for £10m, and Allardyce feels that the England international has the ability to be a regular starter if he can rediscover his edge.
Allardyce told reporters: "Jack is a particularly interesting case for me because I want to see the lad who played in the Premier League when he was 16, 17 and 18, which is hugely unusual. And then at 23, 24 [he has] become what seems to be a bit-part player.
"We know the ability he's got, but he seems to have lost that edge he used to have so I've got to try and find it and help him recreate it."
The 61-year-old also criticised his move to City in 2012, admitting that he should have stayed at Everton instead of becoming a squad player with the Champions League club.
Allardyce added: "I tend to think that Man City bought him because he was a homegrown player and they didn't have enough.
"That made him almost, in Manchester City's eyes, a squad player, which wasn't a very good career move, so maybe in hindsight staying at Everton would have been a better thing."
Rodwell has made six appearances for Sunderland this year in the Premier League but has started just three of those games.
Nathan Staples
