Seven Englishmen you didn’t know were now in Australia from Sturridge to Rodwell

While some English players drop down from the Premier League into the Football League towards the end of their playing careers – others fancy a spell in a more tropical climate.

Former England internationals Daniel Sturridge and Jack Rodwell are just two of several former major top-flight players to have made the switch around the globe.

With former stars like Luis Garcia, William Gallas, Dwight Yorke, Damien Duff and Robbie Fowler having all played in Australia in the past – they have now been replace by a new cohort.

Daily Star Sport has taken a look at seven of the most recognisable Englishman playing in the current A-League season, with Rodwell winning on his first start in the division on Friday morning.

Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge scored a total of 76 goals across 218 Premier League appearances during spells with Manchester City, Chelsea, Bolton, Liverpool and West Brom between 2006 and 2018.

The 32-year-old also managed eight goals across 26 England appearances, and took a new step in his career with a move to Trabzonspor in 2019.

Following seven goals in 17 appearances and a four-month ban for betting breaches, Sturridge joined Perth Glory back in October and made his debut on November 20 against Adelaide United.

He said after signing a one-year contract: "When the opportunity came about, it felt like the right thing to do, to take my talent somewhere where I can enjoy my football in a competitive league and try and help the team be as successful as they possibly can be."

Craig Noone

Former Liverpool youth prospect Craig Noone enjoyed a fine career in England with spells at Plymouth Argyle, Brighton & Hove Albion, Cardiff City and Bolton between 2008 and 2019.

After a short spell in the Premier League and a longer stint in the Championship, the 34-year-old recently joined Macarthur FC after two years with Melbourne City.

Macarthur have won one of their opening two fixtures in the 2021/22 season, with Noone playing 90 minutes in both games and lining up alongside a former Cardiff team-mate.

Jordon Mutch

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That former team-mate is Jordon Mutch, whom Noone played alongside on 30 occasions during their time in Wales, 15 of which came in the Premier League.

Mutch, 29, joined Cardiff after a five-year spell at Birmingham City, and stayed there two years before joining Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace before moving abroad.

After spells in South Korea with Gyeongnam FC and Norway with Aalesund, he joined Western Sydney Wanderers in January before a July switch to Macarthur FC.

David Ball

David Ball was in action on Friday morning as Wellington Phoenix slipped to defeat against Western Sydney Warriors at the WIN Stadium.

Ball, 31, was in the youth academy at Manchester City between 1997 and 2009, leaving the club on a permanent deal to join Peterborough United in 2011.

Following a loan at Rochdale he joined Fleetwood and then Rotherham, signing for Phoenix back in 2019 and scoring 12 goals across his first 49 league appearances.

Adam Le Fondre

Adam Le Fondre, who has the fourth-best career minutes-per-goal ratio Premier League history with 12 strikes in 2012/23, was a Football League legend with Rochdale, Rotherham United and Reading.

After his brief top-flight outing came spells with Cardiff, Bolton, Wolves, Wigan, and Bolton again before a switch to join Sydney FC in 2018.

He managed 49 goals across 75 fixtures in his three full seasons so far, returning to the club earlier this year after a loan in India with Mumbai City.

Gary Hooper

Gary Hooper earned a move to Celtic way back in 2010 after impressing with Scunthorpe United, and his 63 goals across 95 league outings caught the eye of Norwich.

In his only full Premier League season he managed six goals, later joining Sheffield Wednesday before trying his hand at foreign football.

After a move to Wellington Phoenix, who play their A-League home matches in New Zealand, in 2019, he spent time with Kerala Blasters in India before turning to Australia and scoring in their season opener.

Jack Rodwell

Jack Rodwell made his first start for Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday and helped them to a 2-0 victory despite suffering a worrying knock in the opening minutes.

The 30-year-old has been working hard to get back to full fitness after leaving Sheffield United after just one Premier League appearance earlier in the year.

The three-time England international featured for Everton, City, Sunderland and Blackburn before his move to the Blades, and already looks to be a fine asset for WSW.

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