Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jack Rodwell has described moving to Ewood Park as the start of the second half of his career, reports the Lancashire Telegraph. 

Since making his England debut against Spain in 2011 the midfielder has made just 111 appearances after suffering some serious injuries and being a questionable character himself.

But he is determined to set the record straight at Ewood Park.

“The last couple of years have been hard but hopefully it is just a blip,” Rodwell told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“It’s now a case of feeling my way into it at Blackburn and picking up a good run of form. It’s nice to focus on football and being in a good place at a good club and looking forward. It’s a great club, with a great history and it feels great to be back at a football club and I can’t wait to get back playing.”

Rodwell was one of English football's most highly rated talents when he was rising through the ranks at Everton and signed for Manchester City in 2012 for £13.5million after making 109 appearances for the Toffees' first team.

But his career began to take a downward turn at the Etihad Stadium as Rodwell made just 25 appearances for the club in two years and moved to Sunderland in 2014.

In his four years with the Black Cats he made 76 appearances and scored six goals but when the club were relegated to the Championship Rodwell lost interest and made just two league appearances all season.

It is possible that Rodwell could make his first appearance for Rovers during the Lancashire Cup game against Preston North End at the club's training ground on Tuesday night.

The verdict 

I suppose it is promising to see Rodwell speaking so openly about the mistakes he has made in the past and that he has learnt from them, but it is very much a case of I will believe it when I see it.

If Mowbray can get him playing to the best of his ability he will be a terrific signing but that is a massive if giving his reputation and his complete lack of match fitness.