A possible ‘second half of my career’ was how Jack Rodwell described his opportunity at Rovers.

The road back could start with Tuesday’s Lancashire Senior Cup first round tie with Preston on Tuesday in front of a handful of fans at the club’s Academy training base at Brockhall.

In contrast, at Wembley tonight, England are set to host Spain in front of around 80,000. That is relevant to the first half of Rodwell’s career.

Spain were the Three Lions’ opposition almost seven years ago, on November 12, 2011, when Rodwell made his international debut as a 57th minute replacement for Rovers Academy graduate Phil Jones.

He was viewed as a prodigious talent, a future mainstay of the England team.

However, in the intervening period, through injury and circumstance, the 27-year-old has played just 111 matches in total, three of those in the Checkatrade Trophy. He added just two more England caps, in friendlies against Sweden and Brazil.

“The last couple of years have been hard but hopefully it is just a blip,” Rodwell said. “To win three England caps was a great experience. It would have been nice to add more and there is still time.

“It’s now a case of feeling my way into it at Blackburn and picking up a good run of form.

“It’s nice to focus on football and being in a good place at a good club and looking forward.

“It’s a great club, with a great history and it feels great to be back at a football club and I can’t wait to get back playing.”

It is because of that pedigree, which has seen him twice command transfer fees in excess of £10m, that boss Tony Mowbray cannot question the talent of a player brought in on a deal until the end of the season.

Rodwell, when fully fit, is likely to provide competition in central defence for Rovers, with Mowbray believing some of his injury problems have been down to flying around the pitch in central midfield.

“He’s been with the sports science department on the days the players have been off doing some running,” Mowbray said of Rodwell.

“We’ve let him feel like a footballer at this club, get to know the players, join in and enjoy his training and relax in to the club.

“In training, I don’t really know what foot he kicks with because he has amazing composure on both feet, pinging it 30 yards one way and then 40 yards the other direction.

“I don’t think anyone should question his talent, he’s played for England and Man City, and we’re finding out about his spirit and his character.”

At 27, Rodwell was the oldest of Rovers’ summer signings, with the rest aged 23 or younger. His pedigree, and profile, are among the biggest in the Rovers squad, with Danny Graham the only player he knew prior to signing.

He could step up his fitness with an outing for Damien Johnson’s Under-23 side, having played just two matches since leaving Sunderland in the summer, friendlies during a trial spell at Watford.

His time on Wearside ended sourly, left to train with the Under-23s, with his reported weekly wage hogging the headlines as Sunderland headed for League One.

But a fresh start in East Lancashire, and the chance of training regularly with a first team, was one he jumped at.

“As soon as they offered me a deal I wanted to take it within the week. It happened really quickly,” he added.

“When I knew the club were interested I thought straight away it would be a brilliant club for me to join and I have a year to give it my all and see.

“I’m probably one of the more experienced players in the squad and hopefully I can help.

“It’s a young squad and that’s good, you want everyone fit and fighting for places and hopefully that will only help the team.”

Reflecting on the former Everton man’s three England caps, and 102 starts in the Premier League, Mowbray insists Rodwell’s ability is there for all to see.

Indeed the Rovers boss wants his new charge to rediscover the hunger to kick-start his career.

“That’s what my discussions have been with the boy, about football and only football, whether he wants to be a footballer and show people he can play,” Mowbray added.

“He’s a very talented individual, let’s see if he can recapture what he had. I haven’t looked too deeply into the reasons why he only played once for Sunderland last season.

“He’s 27-years-old and should be in peak physical fitness.

“I can’t question his talent, I’ve seen it, how technically gifted he is, how fast and mobile he is and he has to roll that package all in to one, push the re-start button on his career and see if he can get it going.”