At no cost whatsoever is Jack Rodwell. There had been some expectation that the 18-year-old would understudy Lescott on Thursday. Moyes believed that would have been premature, and deployed Neville, with Rodwell as a central midfield minder; one who marauded forward and scored a long-range brace into the bargain. He possesses an assurance that belies his age.
“So, two goals, one an absolute screamer?” a TV interviewer suggested to him, encouragingly. Rodwell corrected him: “Two screamers.” He added: “Last season, I was still a boy, still learning. Over the summer, with the [England] under-21s, and at the back end of last season, I have gained a little more experience.”