Jack Rodwell's career in limbo after two-game ban

Jack Rodwell may have played his last game for Sydney FC after receiving a two-match ban which will rule him out for the rest of the A-League Men season.

Football Australia’s match review panel hit Rodwell with the suspension on Monday after the three-cap England international was shown a straight red card in Friday’s 2-1 ALM semi-final first leg loss to the Central Coast Mariners.

The 33-year-old will be unable to play in the second leg of the semi-final at Gosford on Saturday, and should Sydney qualify for the grand final, Rodwell would have to watch from the sidelines.

Rodwell’s dismissal for a lunging tackle on Christian Theoharous - just his third send-off in a near 300-game career - could be the Englishman’s last act in Sydney colours.

The midfielder-turned-defender is yet to extend his contract with Sydney, who he joined two years ago after a season-long stint with Western Sydney Wanderers.

While Rodwell has shown the composure and class befitting a player with extensive Premier League experience, his two seasons in Sydney colours have been heavily impacted by his ability to keep fit.

The centre back has mustered just 12 games this season after playing 13 fixtures in the 2022/23 campaign.

Rodwell has indicated he wants to play on under Ufuk Talay but the Sydney boss will spend the next few months re-evaluating his squad and deciding which areas he needs to strengthen.

Former Sunderland and Manchester City star Rodwell is one of five visa quota players on the books at Sydney, with only English winger Joe Lolley signed to the club beyond this season.

Slovakian international Robert Mak was recently linked with a return to his homeland with Slovan Bratislava.

Sydney’s other two imports - Brazilian duo Gabriel Lacerda and Fabio Gomes - are signed to the club on loan deals.