Newcastle loan signing Danny Rose says he was not given the same opportunities as his fellow defenders to prove himself to Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.
The 29-year-old made 16 appearances for Spurs early in the season but only five after Mourinho became manager on 20 November.
“I do feel I wasn’t given as much of a chance as everybody else in the backline,” the left-back told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I did want to play for him.”
The Doncaster-born player added: “I knew after a month [of Mourinho joining] I was never going to play. It was difficult going out to train knowing I wasn’t going to play.
“It’s not worked out, but full respect to him and what he’s doing at the club. He took over with the club 12 points adrift of Chelsea [now in fourth place] and now it’s four.
“I have to be honest, I thought I would continue playing.”
Rose had faced an uncertain future at Tottenham since last summer when he was left out of the squad for their pre-season tour of Asia in order for him to explore opportunities with other clubs.
The full-back explained that he has struggled to regain the form he showed prior to a knee injury in January 2017 that required surgery and left him sidelined for nine months.
He added: “I’d love to be the player I was three years ago when I was doing well. I thought I would return to become that player after the injury, but I had a rude awakening.”
Rose is now hoping this fresh opportunity at Newcastle will give him the chance to prove that he is worthy of a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020.
“I’ve been given a chance to play week in and week out,” he said. “I want to play football again – with the Euros in the summer, I want to put myself in window.
“If I go to Newcastle and do well they may think that’s what’s expected of me. But if I don’t do well then they might think Tottenham were right to let me go. I have a lot riding on this, but I’m confident in my ability and I know I will do well.”