Once deemed one of English football's brightest prospects, Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell is not even a name under consideration for Roy Hodgson's plans this summer.

Having turned 23 last month, the former Everton starlet has seen his career effectively stall since making the move to the Etihad in the summer of 2012. With the season drawing to a close and the player clearly out of favour at the club, what is actually next for Jack Rodwell?

At the time of his signing, then manager Roberto Mancini outlined his view that it was a move for the future. Providing an immediate reality check, the Italian claimed it would be "different" for him in Manchester but confidently predicted "in a couple of years I am sure he will be a top and stronger midfielder."

But after nearly two years, Rodwell has hardly threatened to become a first team regular under either Mancini or Manuel Pellegrini. The midfielder has made a grand total of fifteen appearances in the Premier League for the Citizens, of which only seven have been starts. Rodwell has made just a single league start in the current campaign and was recently hauled off at half time of City's FA Cup tie with Watford, with the Championship side holding a shock 2-0 lead.

For a player that has seen his short career so far plagued by injuries, niggling problems have played their part in disrupting the midfielder's time on Manchester. Such has been the frequency of Rodwell's hamstring troubles that he has gone to incredible lengths to try and find a solution including moving house and changing cars.

But even if the midfielder was able to consign these injury concerns to the past, how likely is he to break into the first team at this point? Yaya Toure and summer signing Fernandinho have formed an impressive partnership and with Javi Garcia also ahead of him in the pecking order, Rodwell is understandably finding it difficult to obtain any reasonable playing time.

Unfortunately for the former Everton starlet, there is a sense that he may have only ever been signed in order to boost City's homegrown quota. Like Adam Johnson and Scott Sinclair, Rodwell has made the move to the Etihad and has consequently struggled to prove himself ahead of his more reputable foreign colleagues. In any case, the grass certainly hasn't proven to be any greener.

Ever since his time in Everton's academy, Rodwell has always been tipped to become a star and a memorable goal over Manchester United in 2010 only seemed to confirm this potential. But even at this stage, injuries plagued the starlet and meant that David Moyes was happy to accept an offer rumoured to be as low as £12million for a player seemingly destined for a big future in the game.

With so many of England's "Golden Generation" fading from view, now really should have been Rodwell's time to impress on the international stage. The midfielder's career trajectory should serve as a warning to Ross Barkley, who is currently being lauded as a future star for his country having enjoyed a breakout season at Everton. With rumours linking the starlet with a big money move in the summer, Barkley would be wise to not follow Rodwell out of the Goodison Park just yet.

Pellegrini recently insisted that the midfielder would be staying put at the Etihad, stating that "Jack will continue here." But despite this, City are still heavily linked with making another move for Porto's Fernando in the summer. If this transfer were to go through, where would that leave Rodwell?

Recent speculation has linked the player with a return to Goodison Park, with Roberto Martinez reportedly keen to re-sign the midfielder. This may constitute a backwards step in his career but Rodwell is in desperate need of first team minutes to revive his career. Although it didn't transpire, Wigan Athletic were heavily linked with an emergency loan move for the former prodigy in the last month.

Whatever he decides, Rodwell cannot afford to continue sitting on the sidelines at the Etihad. The midfielder will almost certainly be asking "what if" whilst watching the World Cup unfold at home. Whether it is through a return to Everton or a loan or transfer elsewhere, Rodwell needs to revive his career. And he needs to do it fast.

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