How many clubs have an England international with over 20 caps, over 260 Premier League appearances, 26 goals from the wing and pace to burn at their disposal but can afford not to give the player a squad number for the current campaign? Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs have deemed Aaron Lennon surplus to requirements but will they regret giving him the cold shoulder if the window closes and they have been unable to offload the former Leeds wide man.

Although this stance can not have come as a surprise to either the player or the fans having sent Lennon out on loan for the second half of the season. Having joined Everton Lennon made 14 appearances scoring two goals as the Toffees finished the season strongly with the pace injection the Spurs loanee brought helping Roberto Martinez men stretch the opposition. The loan spell showed that Lennon was still a valuable Premier League asset.

Spurs and Daniel Levy have built a reputation of being shrew in the transfer market with the sales of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in recent times being on Tottenham’s terms, refusing to be dictated too. The attributes mentioned at

beginning may make the reported £9m price tag seem reasonable, on the other hand by alienating Aaron Lennon to the extent that he is no longer worthy of a squad number, does the price they have set actually match the value they place on the player. Lennon is after all in his tenth year at the club and has been a faithful servant week in week out for the majority of his time at White Hart Lane no matter which of the many managers where in charge.

There are undoubtedly flaws in the game of Aaron Lennon and arguably he has not made the most of the pace and skill he has been blessed with. As a youngster at Leeds his lack of a final ball was put down to the inexperience of youth, but this never materialised, whether it is down to a lack of willingness to work on his game or simply because he feels he can no longer improve and perhaps needs a new challenge. Should the latter be the case Pochettino is right to want him out of the squad.

Unfortunately for Spurs they have gotten off to a slow start to their campaign. With the exception of Nacer Chadli the other squad members in Lennon’s position have flattered to deceive. Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend and Dele Alli have neither the experience nor the record of Aaron Lennon yet are deemed a better fit for the Spurs squad. If none of the clubs in the Premier League are willing to meet the price tag placed on Lennon’s head there is no doubt he could be one of the star attractions towards the end of the window as Spurs and the player will clearly try to finalise a move.

Aaron Lennon does not deserve to be cast aside in the manner Tottenham Hotspur have decided to deal with him. His pace alone will trouble defenders at any level and is definitely worthy of a place in Pochettino’s squad. With his team struggling, Harry Kane failing to get off the mark while with the pressure of being the only recognised centre forward at the club how long before Mauricio Pochettino has to bite the bullet and reintegrate Aaron Lennon back into his starting line up?