He’s been around the block a bit having already turned out for Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Everton amongst others, and this summer a switch to Vincent Kompany’s Burnley was on the cards.
The 32-year-old had apparently been without a club after leaving the Toffees, a decision that was no doubt influenced by the ACL injury that the player suffered back in March 2022.
BBC Sport report that he had been on trial with the Clarets and had even participated in friendlies against Portuguese giants, Benfica, as well as Real Betis and Genk.
Not only that, the player had even got as far as agreeing terms with the club that find themselves joint bottom of the table without a win this season and only a point to their name.
Things had therefore been looking up until Kompany pulled the plug on the deal, something that Townsend himself has put down to his enforced 18-month hiatus.
“The situation is I’ve not played a competitive match for 18 months so because of my age and lack of minutes English clubs can’t take that risk,” he was quoted as saying.
“I looked abroad and thought clubs would be desperate to sign a player of my experience but it was the same again, lack of minutes.
“The ACL is a very complex injury and when players get it in the latter stages of their career they sometimes never fully recover to their previous selves, so that’s the worry.”
It’s a decision that has clearly hurt the player, after he admitted via BBC Sport that the snub reduced him to tears.
“It was probably one of the toughest conversations I’ve had in my career,” Townsend added.
“If I was bad and knew I wasn’t going to get a contract I could prepare myself. But to be looking at houses, looking at schools, talking about squad numbers and then to be told the contract is no longer on offer, it rocked my world.”
At present, the player has still been unable to find himself a club, and if he’s unable to do so before too long, the likelihood is that his career at the highest level is over.
If he needs minutes, then it should be a no risk offer from player to thr Club.
Hes had 18 months rehab, needs to train.
But he shouldnt ask a club to gamble on £20K plus a week.
A squad number is taken up on a gamble!!
He could offer Everton something until Jan, pick the phone up and ask.???
Not sure he can now, but a free agent???
If he believes he can do something then make a club an offer.
Pay me after 12 weeks???Give me minutes, a chance to prove what i can do.
Ive been a physiotherapist fitness coach at the highest level.
Its not all one way, footballers are massively paid, he secure, Insured for ACL career threatened injury.
Wanna play get minutes make a club an offer.
Someone should give him a go.He was a good player for Spurs and others,so couldn’t someone take him on on a temporary basis,even allow him to take on a coaching role to get his badges.
What about a week by week contract or go down to the championship?