Mancity is not good for a young English player

'If I’d been playing regularly for the last two years, I believe I probably would have been up there (as one of best players in the world),' he said.

'I certainly think I would have been playing at the World Cup. It’s just not worked out over the last two seasons and that’s why I am here (at Sunderland) now.'

Rodwell had several options over the close-season but, after a meeting with Black Cats boss Gus Poyet, he was sold on Wearside.

'The manager just came across really well, he’s someone who has done it at the top level and he knows what the players need,' he went on.

'He’s obviously got good man-management skills, he said I’d be playing every week as well and that’s the main thing for me.

Rodwell was rated as one of the best talents in the world at 16 years of age when he became Everton's youngest-ever European player.

Three England caps followed but he hasn't appeared since the 2-2 draw with Brazil in Rio last summer.

Rodwell is keen to stress that he was fit for 47 of City's 57 matches last season but simply was not selected by Manuel Pellegrini.

And that, he argues, robbed him of the chance of a return to Brazil as part of Roy Hodgson's squad.