Chris Coleman has no doubts about Jack Rodwell's ability, but says that he has to play more and has to 'offer himself up more' if he is to turn his Sunderland career around.
Sunderland spent £10million to bring the former Everton midfielder to Wearside from Manchester City in the summer of 2014, but the midfielder has since struggled to justify his price tag and win over the Sunderland faithful.
Rodwell, still only 26, was the only player in the Sunderland squad relegated from the Premier League not to have an automatic pay-cut clause in his contract in the event of relegation, with the midfielder being the club's highest earner on £60,000 a week in the Championship.
Coleman was asked about Rodwell, who wasn't in the squad for the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa after picking up an injury in training, ahead of Saturday's trip to Burton Albion.
The new Sunderland boss said that he is happy to help Rodwell, but says that it is down to the individual.
Coleman, who only took charge last weekend, said: "I think that you have to look at Jack and think talent wise he is a very, very good player and he hasn't played a lot.
"He has been here for two or three years, I think. An individual has to want to change himself, forget about good advice here, good advice there"
"Unless you want to change yourself and do something yourself, it doesn't matter what anybody says to anybody"
"Ability wise, all day long, great ability, but of course you have got to look and say 'you have got to play more Jack, you have to offer yourself up to it more'.
"Talent wise it is a no-brainer, but we need Jack to be on the pitch not in the treatment room, and that is down to Jack Rodwell.
"He has got to want to do that because if you are the type of person that needs pushing all of the time you are the type of person in life that doesn't accept accountability.
"We are all accountable. It is as simple as that."
Sunderland spent £10million to bring the former Everton midfielder to Wearside from Manchester City in the summer of 2014, but the midfielder has since struggled to justify his price tag and win over the Sunderland faithful.
Rodwell, still only 26, was the only player in the Sunderland squad relegated from the Premier League not to have an automatic pay-cut clause in his contract in the event of relegation, with the midfielder being the club's highest earner on £60,000 a week in the Championship.
Coleman was asked about Rodwell, who wasn't in the squad for the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa after picking up an injury in training, ahead of Saturday's trip to Burton Albion.
The new Sunderland boss said that he is happy to help Rodwell, but says that it is down to the individual.
Coleman, who only took charge last weekend, said: "I think that you have to look at Jack and think talent wise he is a very, very good player and he hasn't played a lot.
"He has been here for two or three years, I think. An individual has to want to change himself, forget about good advice here, good advice there"
"Unless you want to change yourself and do something yourself, it doesn't matter what anybody says to anybody"
"Ability wise, all day long, great ability, but of course you have got to look and say 'you have got to play more Jack, you have to offer yourself up to it more'.
"Talent wise it is a no-brainer, but we need Jack to be on the pitch not in the treatment room, and that is down to Jack Rodwell.
"He has got to want to do that because if you are the type of person that needs pushing all of the time you are the type of person in life that doesn't accept accountability.
"We are all accountable. It is as simple as that."
