“I’m comfortable at this club,” he said.

“It’s a great club. The fans are passionate, all the players play for the shirt and the manager is brilliant with blooding young players.

“His track record speaks for itself and you’re more than happy to play for a manager like that. The gaffer knows me well and that’s a big issue for me and I enjoy working under him.

“I like to get game time. I got a bit last season and hopefully this season I can get even more.

“It’s definitely not about money. I love the game, I love to play football and that’s the main thing.

“Hopefully more games will come and whatever else happens that’s a bonus for the international scene.”

An England under-21, Rodwell is tipped to become a full international in the coming years.

Signing a five-year deal shows he believes Everton can help him achieve that goal.

“It would be brilliant to play for the senior England team,” said Rodwell.

“It would obviously show I am playing as good as I can be for Everton, and hopefully sooner rather than later that can happen. There hasn’t been any contact from England.

“You hear rumours in the papers and stuff saying he’s got a shot, but I don’t really look into that sort of stuff.

“I play for the 21s now and maybe next season even more so. Hopefully I can kick on now and see what happens.”