It is always a great shame when a footballer with an immense amount of talent cannot, for whatever reason, make the most of his skills.
Sadly, it is looking as if David Bentley is one of those footballers as he this week went on loan to Russian side FC Rostov until January. If not banishment to Siberia, certainly out in the footballing wilderness.
It seems an awful long time ago since Bentley and Morten Gamst Perderson were the best pair of wingers operating in the Premier League at Blackburn Rovers under Mark Hughes and that is because it was a long time ago. Bentley is now 28.
It is do or die time for his career, some three years after he joined Spurs from Ewood Park in a deal worth £15million.
There has been flashes of brilliance such as THAT goal against Arsenal but he has only made 62 appearances for the club and none since November 2010.
A loan move to West Ham in 2011 resulted in him being ruled out for the season with a knee injury and it is desperately sad that before news of this loan move emerged, this writer could not even remember what club he was at.
One hopes for Bentley’s sake he can finally reignite a career that promised so much but after so long without game time, one cannot help but wonder if it’s all too late.