Roman Pavlyuchenko reacts after missing a chance to score against Everton in the Carling Cup. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
Roman Pavlyuchenko looks as though he could be on his way out of Tottenham in the January transfer window after reportedly claiming in the Russian press that manager Harry Redknapp is "mocking" him by leaving him out of the team.
Speaking to the Russian press, Pavlyuchenko said: "You cannot even imagine how tired I am of sitting on the bench. Do you want to hear a joke in London? It goes: Harry Redknapp put Roman Pavlyuchenko into the starting line-up. For me it would be funny if it was not so painful. I have a feeling that our manager is mocking me."
Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs in the summer of 2008 from Spartak Moscow for £13.8m but has struggled for regular first-team football at White Hart Lane. This season he has made just four substitute appearances in the Premier League. His only starts this season have come in the Carling Cup, where he has played two games and scored once.
Pavlyuchenko also claims Redknapp told him he would be involved in the Carling Cup encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford, only to be kept on the bench again. "On the eve of the match he asked me to come to see him. He said: 'Tomorrow will be a chance to show your best in front of 75,000 spectators. We need to use it.' He used it by keeping me on the bench for 90 minutes."