Sam Allardyce knows Jack Rodwell has a fight on his hands to return to form
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce says midfielder Jack Rodwell faces a fight to save his once-promising career as he struggles with injuries and loss of confidence at the Stadium of Light.
Rodwell was tipped for great things when he moved from Everton to Manchester City in 2012 but two years being surplus to requirements at the Etihad caused him to lose his way.
The 24-year-old spent last week in Germany in his latest bid to shrug off a series of injuries which have hampered his progress in the north-east, but Allardyce is hopeful he can regain some semblance of his earlier form.
Allardyce said: "Everyone is saying 'what's happened to Jack Rodwell?' and it's clear the number of niggling injuries he's had and the two years at Manchester City have caused him to lose his focus and his confidence.
"I think we've got to rebuild that and the only way to rebuild it is to make sure we keep Jack fit and training every day and that when selected he hopefully finds that confidence again.
"Jack burst onto the scene with Everton at 17 years old but since he went to Manchester City he has not played as often as he would have liked and that was a big move that didn't pay off."
However Allardyce handed Rodwell a rare chance from the bench during the defeat at Arsenal last week and it almost paid off as he provided a fine cross for Patrick van Aanholt, who missed a good opportunity to equalise.
And Rodwell could figure again against Watford at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with Allardyce short of options due to Lee Cattermole's absence with a recurrence of his back injury.
Seb Larsson is out for a month with a knee injury, while Steven Fletcher faces a late test after sustaining a foot problem in training.
But there is better news for Allardyce with the returns of Jermain Defoe and Wes Brown who missed last week's defeat at Arsenal with hamstring and knee issues respectively.
Meanwhile, Quique Sanchez Flores accepts Watford's Christmas fixture list could have been kinder, but sees no reason why his side should not enjoy some festive cheer heading into 2016.
The Hornets travel to Sunderland looking to record a third straight Barclays Premier League win, with a run of just two defeats from the last six putting them in 10th place.
It has been a positive start both for the Hertfordshire club on return to the top flight and Spaniard Flores in his first English job. However, the sternest test of just whether Watford have what it takes to hold their own among the elite clubs is fast approaching.
After Saturday's trip to Wearside to face a Sunderland team scrapping to get out of the bottom three, Watford host Liverpool, head to Chelsea on Boxing Day before tackling Tottenham and then Manchester City on January 2.
Flores, though, sees no reason to believe his men should not be able to get something out of all of those daunting fixtures provided they continue to deliver the required approach.
"For us, I cannot guarantee we will presume (to get) three points against Sunderland or against Liverpool, it is impossible, I do not know what will happen during the matches," he said.
"It is not the easiest problem for December, but we will just play every game.
"We are just thinking about the next match, our idea is always to try to get the result, be competitive and do our work."
The Spaniard continued: "After any result, whether it has been a win, draw or a loss, we remove completely what has happened in the match before and are focused on the next game.
"Of course we are positive after (beating) Norwich, but need to control that positive energy and use it well."
Sunderland may have slipped back to 19th place following defeat at Arsenal last weekend, but Flores has been impressed by the work of Allardyce, whose side won at Crystal Palace then beat Stoke at home before being edged out by the title-chasing Gunners.
Flores said: "Sunderland have changed a lot with the new manager and I respect that a lot. He (Allardyce) has a lot of experience in the Premier League and has changed the shape and dynamic of the team.
"He is changing systems during the matches, so we have to be ready for different options which they are going to use against us.
"Sunderland will be a very tough team, with their fans very close (to the pitch) it will be difficult.
"But we have 2,000 fans who follow out team, we have a spirit and so it will be possible for us to get everything also."
Source: PAR
