The signs are pretty clear for Joe Rodon that he has to leave Tottenham in January.
On Wednesday night, as Spurs were booking their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup, at the expense of West Ham, Rodon was watching the action unfold from the bench.
Even though Antonio Conte rang the changes from the previous game, he opted to leave Rodon out of the XI, despite him playing his usual three at the back system.
If the hard-hitting defender can’t earn game time in the League Cup, then it’s not going to come by in the Premier League, nor in Europe, because they are out of that now.
All in all, if Rodon didn’t know it already, his time at the club is up.
The 24-year-old will be wondering whether his move to Spurs for £11 million (BBC Sport) last summer was a mistake because it has done his career more harm than good.
Rodon was snapped up by Jose Mourinho, but he then proceeded to leave him out of his Europa League squad last season even though he wasn’t earning regular minutes in the Premier League.
Throughout the campaign, the Wales international only managed ten starts in all competitions, and after 78 minutes of Premier League football this term, he has only played 54 minutes under Conte.
What Rodon also needs to remember is that Wales have crucial World Cup play-off matches coming up at the start of 2022.
He needs to be fit and firing for those games because he is a key player for Rob Page’s side.
And if Wales were to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar then, once again, he can’t afford to be half-cooked for that tournament, which starts in November.
Either way, when the winter transfer window re-opens, Rodon needs to find a home that will provide him with regular minutes.
Whether that’s a loan deal, a permeant one, heading back down to the Championship or playing Premier League football elsewhere.
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