Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell targeting first senior England cap

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Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell is looking to gain his first senior England cap after putting a season ravaged by injury behind him.

Rodwell, who is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects in English football, has only started 12 times in the Premier League this season but hopes that next year he can build upon his promising start from last season to gain a regular place in the Everton starting line up.

When quizzed about gaining a call-up to Fabio Capello’s side, he told Absolute Radio: “I hope so. It’s pretty much a case of getting regular first team football now.

“This season’s not been quite how I imagined it with injuries and stuff, but hopefully next season I can put that right.”

Rodwell, 20, also had some very kind words for the work of Everton’s youth academy, of which he is a product.

He said: “It’s been brilliant. The academy has always produced good players, you can look at the names – Wayne Rooney, and obviously there’s loads more, Francis Jeffers, you know – they’ve all gone on to play for England, and hopefully I’ll do that myself.

“The academy, like I said, is fantastic, and they make you feel at home and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

The young defensive midfielder has regularly been linked with big money moves away from Goodison Park, most repeatedly in the direction of Manchester United. When asked about the matter, however, the Southport-born prospect brushed off any discussion of leaving the club.

He continued: “Obviously it’s flattering, but you can’t look into it too much. The games are coming too thick and fast and you’ve just got to be concentrating on that.”

This Saturday Absolute Radio’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Football Live travels to Goodison Park for their feature game Everton v Man City. You can tune in every Saturday on Absolute Radio extra – on DAB Digital Radio, 1215AM and online in the UK. Tune in for the full Jack Rodwell interview. For more go to www.absoluteradio.co.uk/football