• Striker says he has become a joke in London
• Speculation mounts over move from White Hart Lane
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."