Sydney FC star ‘chilled’ for finals

Sydney FC’s finals campaign has been a welcome distraction for former Everton and Manchester City defender Jack Rodwell, whose future remains uncertain.

The 33-year-old ex-England international has made just eight A-League appearances in an injury-plagued 2023-24 season.

However, Rodwell has returned to fitness right in time for the finals series.

He started and played for 75 minutes in Sydney’s 4-0 elimination final win over Macarthur FC last Saturday and could again be in the heart of the Sky Blues defence in Friday night’s semi-final first-leg clash against the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium.

“It’s been frustrating,” Rodwell said in reflecting on his lack of game time this season.

“But if you had offered me at some point in the season that I was going to be fit for the whole finals, and we win the title, and I didn’t play as many games during the season, I would have snapped your hand off also.

“I’m building my minutes up again, and now it’s finals, it’s just about giving everything you’ve got and see where the chips fall.

“It’s a good time for me to be back fit – as good a time as any.”

The off-contract Rodwell would love to remain with the Sky Blues but was unsure where he would be playing next season.

“I’ll take a bit of time to see what my options look like at the end of the season,” he said.

“The good thing is that we are in the finals, so I’m focusing on that.

“My future is really at the back of my mind, which is probably a positive, because normally I’d be thinking a lot more about it, trying to get to what I’m going to do already, whereas now I’m chilled about it and just focusing on our games at hand.”

Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said Rowell’s acumen was invaluable during the finals series.

“Jack’s an important player,” Talay said.

“The funny thing with Jack is even if he has missed a couple of the (training) sessions during the week, he’s still a good enough player to get through games, and that experience helps us in our backline as well.”

While Rodwell is fit, the Sky Blues will have to overcome the loss of their talisman Joe Lolley – who has been ruled out for the rest of the finals with a hamstring injury – if they are to win the title.

“It’s a massive blow. He’s gutted that he can’t be involved, but we’ve got players who can come in and fill that role,” Rodwell said.

“We’d love to have had him but unfortunately he won’t be available, but we can overcome it.”