The Sheffield United player poised to learn his fate this summer

Fourteen points adrift of safety with only 14 matches remaining, United enter tomorrow’s match at Craven Cottage knowing that defeat would almost certainly extinguish their faint hopes of survival and mark the end of the club’s stay in the top-flight.

With a combination of his team mates’ form last season and a series of injuries since September’s return to action, Rodwell has yet to make a senior appearance during the present campaign despite United’s problems at the bottom of the table.

With relegation likely to prompt a round of cost cutting at Bramall Lane, the former England international seems destined to leave South Yorkshire when his contract expires in June. But Wilder has suggested a decision has yet to be reached on Rodwell, with discussions unlikely to take place with him and other players struggling for game time until after May’s home game against Burnley.

“Jack has an ongoing knee issue, and we don’t have an exact date for him coming back,” Wilder, the United manager, said. “It came from an unfortunate injury in training.

“Jack’s career and CV coming here was excellent. He’s been incredibly unfortunate. He covers a load of positions. The gamble is, he stays healthy and fit.”

Although it seems likely Rodwell will depart only a year-and-a-half after joining United on a free transfer, Wilder’s assessment of the situation confirms why coaching staff are torn by the player’s predicament. Capped by England and having represented Manchester City and Everton before his career stalled at Sunderland, Rodwell’s undoubted qualities would be a major asset in either the Premier League or the Championship. The only trouble is, he is seldom available for selection. If - or should that be when? - United do go down, they are unlikely to be able to afford the luxury of carrying someone whose durability and fitness issues are in doubt - particularly given the second tier’s bloated schedule. Rodwell must surely take part in at least a handful of matches - or at the very least become a fixture on the bench - to stand a chance of persuading United to consider awarding him a new deal.

“There’s no issue with his attitude,” Wilder said. “I wouldn’t sign a player who is a terrorist.

“There’s a lazy and uneducated view about Jack Rodwell, about what he is as a footballer. At the moment it’s not working, but who is to say it doesn’t?”

If he remains at the helm, Wilder is likely to be tasked with overseeing a major makeover of United’s midfield later this year. John Lundstram is yet to agree fresh terms, despite being invited to extend his stay in South Yorkshire. Sander Berge, who like Rodwell is currently recovering from injury, has spoken about his desire to play Champions League football and so is also expected to move on.

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