Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and part time Errol Flynn impersonator David Bentley has remained at the club despite several stories linking him with a move away during the January transfer window. While the England international has many admirers, he's still yet to find favour with the two most important in his career right now, Don Fabio Capello and 'Appy 'Arry Redknapp. So what is it with Bentley? He was expected to make it at Arsenal, but then didn't quite. He was expected to blossom into a potential England regular with the experience he'd get at Blackburn, but then he didn't quite. He was expected to flower at Tottenham, a London club with aspirations to match his own, but then he hasn't quite. He was supposed to do a lot of things by now but he just hasn't quite has he?

There's no doubting the boy has talent, but he's never really managed to harness it for long enough, or well enough, to convince us of the star quality his hair cut obviously implies he thinks he has. So is it merely a lack of professionalism? A lack of genuine talent? Or, in the case of Spurs and England, a lack of opportunities?

A supposed lack of professionalism is the most obvious and easiest to lay on Bentley. Even whilst still an Arsenal youth, Baby Bentley had noted gambling problems, reportedly placing £100 bets daily up until his move to Blackburn in 2005. Whilst at Ewood Park he famously pulled out of the U-21 European Championships because he felt he was too tired, leading to criticism from permanently track-suited psycho and team coach Stuart Pearce (who's always struck me as constantly chomping at the bit to go on if England need a little shoring up at the back, hence why he seems to be always wearing his football boots). This particular indiscretion earned him boos on his next full International appearance at Wembley. The general feeling amongst fans was that the then 22 year would not have done so had it been the senior tournament, and thus felt it was beneath him, and it's never good for your reputation to give England fans even the slightest inkling that you aren't 100% dedicated to the three lions. It didn't help the perception that the man he was supposed to be in line to replace, David Beckham, was a man 10 years his senior, and one who would gladly have travelled half way around the world on a punctured bicycle just to be part of the team talks.

Despite this however, Bentley was making great strides at Blackburn when played regularly under Mark Hughes. He became the first player ever in the Premier League to score a hat-trick against Manchester United and was voted Rovers player of the year in 2007. His assist stats during his time at Ewood park were formidable, with an average of roughly 13 a season. So a big money move to Spurs seemed to be the best thing for Bentley, now cultivating an oddly distracting Pirates of the Caribbean look. A step up at the right time and a chance to work his way into the England squad for the World Cup. But it sadly hasn't panned out like that. The form of eyebrow sculpting road runner Aaron Lennon has forced the 25 year old down the pecking order for both club and country. He's racked up only 30 odd league appearances for Spurs in 2 seasons, with many coming as a substitute and has failed to make his mark on the team when chosen.

With a player like Bentley, prone to "personal problems" and dips in form, regular playing time is the only solution. While he may seem like yet another example of the lost potential of Englands transitional generation, he can, and has proved to be a top player when he feels at ease. He was fantastic for long spells at Blackburn, proving and expert crosser of the ball as well as a deft touch at free kicks. He's a confidence player, and as such needs to feel important to the side to truly maximize his talent. Which is why it's a shame he hasn't made a move this month, because with Lennon playing as well as he's ever done this season, it seems unlikely Bentley will get his chance anytime soon. And bar a blistering run in the final months unlikely to force his way into the England team, and possibly even the squad.

Which is a shame for him, and for us, as I genuinely think the boy has talent. From the moment he chipped a delicate lob over Mark Schwarzer as a 19 year old Gooner I always thought he had promise. But unfortunately he's never quite found his fit club wise, or seemed fully committed to any cause. As with all the right sided players of his generation, the international dropping of saint David of Beckham presented the chance to take the torch and run with it. But he, as with Walcott, Lennon, Downing and little Sean, if not more so, has failed to take it. Despite the return of the golden crotched one however, the torch is still dangling there, just about, waiting for a proper heir and successor to truly own that number 7 shirt. Could Bentley resurrect his career and be the one to take it? He'll have to displace Lennon at club level first, or find another team to display his talents at. And after engineering his move to Tottenham, a step down on the ladder would be an admission of failure, whilst a step up would be unlikely given his current form and predicament. Whether his situation now is down to a lack of professionalism or a lack of opportunities I'm not entirely sure, but his best option whatever, is to give his all to the former, and hope it increases the latter.