‘I don’t get it’ – Exclusive: Darren Bent fumes over Tottenham player omission
Darren Bent has blasted Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho for omitting Ryan Sessegnon at left-back in recent weeks.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Spurs and England striker admits he is baffled as to why the Portuguese boss is not using the 19-year-old in his natural position.
Mourinho started Jan Vertonghen on the left-hand side of the defence in the 1-1 draw with Burnley, having also used him there in the FA Cup defeat to Norwich City.
Sessegnon was left out of the squad completely against the Canaries while he was an unused substitute for Saturday’s visit to Turf Moor.
The manager’s decision has riled Bent, who believes the teenager deserves to start over a makeshift option in his Belgian teammate.
Bent told Football Insider: “I don’t understand it one bit. There were basically five centre-halves who played across, including at wing-back.
“I couldn’t understand it, I don’t get it one bit. When you’ve got Sessegnon sitting there, who is a natural wing-back, you play him – inject a bit of pace, a bit of youthfulness who can run and run and run.
“Maybe he’s trying to prove a point to the board but at the minute it’s backfiring. Are they going to give Sessegnon a chance? Right now, if everybody’s fully fit, left-back’s the only place I can see him slotting in.”
Sessegnon, who can also play further up the flank as a winger, has just four league starts from his 11 appearances for Spurs this season.
Vertonghen meanwhile has 26 games under his belt, although he has found himself in and out the side as well.
In other Tottenham news, Kevin Phillips believes one senior star is lining up a shock exit from the club.