JACK RODWELL is prepared to bide his time as he bids for only his second Premier League start of the season at Sunderland on Monday.
Everton’s talented young midfielder limped off injured at Aston Villa in August and has been recuperating from an ankle injury ever since.
But after an ahead of schedule substitute appearance against Arsenal last Sunday Rodwell got another 66 minutes under his belt for England under-21s in midweek.
“The legs felt a bit tired in the end, as I’ve been out for nine weeks injured,” he said.
“But it was good to get back out on the pitch with the Under-21s and I’m happy.
“It was tough when we went down to 10 men, but we dug in and it was an okay performance in the end, but we know we can do better.
“It was a young squad with new faces, so it’s a learning curve for us and we’re just preparing for the Championships now.”
Rodwell is likely to be on the substitutes’ bench again on Monday night at the Stadium of Light, with John Heitinga continuing in the midfield holding role.
The Dutchman played the full 90 minutes of Wednesday’s friendly in Amsterdam against Turkey, and issued his now customary interest in a move elsewhere.
But happily this time Heitinga was speaking about the distant future when he said: “There’s a big chance that I’ll return to Ajax one day. It’s too soon to move back to Amsterdam already though.
“ I don’t know when I’ll return, but I left only three seasons ago.
“I’m eager to return to Ajax later on in my career, but I want to play abroad for a few more years first.”
Blues loan target Landon Donovan, meanwhile, has promised to give David Moyes a decision on whether he will return to Merseyside this winter after he returns from holiday.
Donovan was an unqualified success on loan at Goodison last season, but has now played non-stop football for more than two years.
He explained: “Give me a few weeks and I will have an answer for you. Right now I’m four days into my vacation and I’m going to enjoy it.
“I’m going to chill and then in a few weeks I will make a decision. Both personally and professionally I would have to say it’s been the best year of my life.
“This time of year, I guess, is the time to reflect on it and realise how special this was.”
Finally, Blues boss David Moyes, has praised the improvement of unsung Blues hero Sylvain Distin.
The French defender has been ever present this season and Moyes said: “I think Sylvain has improved since he has been here. He might admit he had a slightly slow start here.
“But he looks like a senior player now.”
