Former England international Peter Reid has claimed that young English footballers should look at Jack Rodwell as a reason for shunning moves to big Premier League sides.
The 24-year-old was touted as an England player in the making at Everton, but struggled for first-team action after joining Manchester City for £12m in 2012.
He has since moved on to Sunderland, but Reid has claimed that Rodwell's career has gone downhill because his development was stunted by a lack of first-team opportunities at City.
"Footballers have to play, it's all about time on the pitch. You can have top players, great coaches but the best players reach the top through playing regularly," Reid told The Mirror. "It's relevant to every young footballer. Get out there, be with a team where you are going to play, it's as simple as that.
"Jack came up through the ranks at Everton, everyone was suitably impressed and he was a huge talent. Strong, good on the ball and an excellent prospect. Fair play to him, he backed himself to go to City. There's a few English lads who went to City and it didn't work. Scott Sinclair is another one.
"I can understand them going to City. It's a great club, great set-up and you can win trophies. But you can't if you're not playing. And that's the problem. Now he has gone to Sunderland and he's still not playing. What is that telling you?"
Rodwell has won three caps for England.
Steven Toplis
