Justin Ferizaj will make his first appearance of the season tonight with Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley insisting the teenager is still in his plans.
The Hoops have yet to register a win in five league games as they put their title on the line for a fourth season running.
Focus shifts to the lowly Leinster Senior Cup this evening when they travel to face Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
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Bradley will field a young and experimental side, resting the majority of his senior stars ahead of Friday’s league clash with derby rivals St Pat’s at Tallaght Stadium.
Ferizaj, 18, will start in Bray having only made the bench for the President’s Cup defeat to Derry City so far this season.
Last year, the talented teenager - who was training with Tottenham over the winter - featured in nine of Rovers’ European games.
Quizzed on why midfielder Ferizaj hasn’t been seen this season, Hoops boss Bradley said: “He has been available. He’s training every day and working hard.
“He’s a good kid. I like him (but) there are little things that we need to be better at. Justin's aware of that and we've had good conversations.
“So he's aware of what he needs to improve. There are a few things. We know he's there and he's in a good space.
“I've no doubt we'll see him back on the pitch in a few weeks' time. He played for the 19s last week and will play for us tonight.
“We know the quality Justin has and he knows he's part of the group.”
Bradley continued: “There was no point bringing him (to Tolka Park on Friday for the Shelbourne game) and sitting him in the stands when it's freezing cold.”
Ferizaj trained with Tottenham in January and Bradley added: “Sometimes we allow that, sometimes we don't. It depends. We talk to the agent and the player's parents.
“There's a lot at play there that comes into our thinking and we decided to allow Justin to go to Tottenham. We have done that with a couple of players over the years.”
