It would be safe to say that Jack Rodwell's career hasn't exactly gone to plan in recent years, but the former Manchester City and Everton man has been given a lifeline after signing a two-year deal with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Rodwell rose to prominence at Everton and it looked like the only way was up after a £13million transfer to Man City, where he claimed a Premier League winners' medal in 2014. He received international recognition too, earning three England caps.
A move to Sunderland followed, and his career was on a downward trajectory from that point. He ended up effectively being frozen out of the picture at the Stadium of Light, and was demonised in the gripping 'Sunderland 'Til I Die' Netflix series.
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Ewood Park was his next destination in 2018, but he left the club after making 22 appearances in just one season at the club. A stint at Sheffield United followed, but he featured just twice for the Blades and left Bramall Lane in June.
But former boss Chris Wilder sprung to the midfielder's defence with questions being raised about his attitude.
"His attitude has been spot-on but sometimes you have these runs, and Jack is having a run right now with this injury that's really unfortunate,"he said in quotes published by The Sun.
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"Hopefully, he gets over this and tries to get his career back up and running. He covers a load of positions.
"I wouldn't sign a bad player that's got a bad attitude. I wouldn't sign a player, as I've said before, who wants to pull the group apart.
"There's all sorts of idiotic, lazy, uneducated views on Jack and what he is as a person and player - all wrong and all false."
Now the 30-year-old is hoping to revive his career Down Under with a number of other former Premier League and Championship players plying their trade for the A-League side.
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They're managed by ex-Scotland international Kenny Miller, and their squad includes former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Tomer Hemed, as well as former Middlesbrough duo Rhys Williams and Tomas Mejias.
Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge is another former England international reviving his career in Australia with Perth Glory.
It is unclear when Rodwell will make his first Wanderers appearance, and FTBL reports there are doubts over his current match fitness going into their next match against Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on 20th November.
Topics: Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Sheffield United, Everton