Joel Bagan must "demand more from himself" if he is to break into Cardiff City's side in the problem position of left-back, Mark Hudson has stated.
Bagan has endured a rollercoaster time of it during his rise to the first team with the Bluebirds, having a number of injury setbacks and falling on the wrong side of selection calls, particularly this season.
The 21-year-old is someone who has divided Cardiff's fan base, with many having grown to become admirers of the Republic of Ireland youth international, while others have wanted to see more attacking output from him. Include former manager Steve Morison in that latter part.
But Cardiff's struggles at left-back this season have been well documented. Jamilu Collins looked a top acquisition before a nasty knee injury which ruled him out for the season.
Bagan stepped in during the next match, away to Bristol City, but had a blow to the head inside the first 10 minutes after challenging for a ball in the air and was forced off. He hasn't been seen since. He has made the bench only twice since that day at Ashton Gate in August.
Niels Nkounkou has largely filled the void, but he hardly fills supporters with confidence given the porous nature of his defending, although he has offered moments of quality in attack.
Callum O'Dowda has been demoted from winger to full-back to account for Nkounkou's shortcomings, but many feel the Irishman is more effective in the attacking third of the pitch and Cardiff are less potent with him at the back.
It's a quandary and one which has led many supporters to call for the return of Bagan, who turned out for the under-21s against Sunderland this week. However, manager Mark Hudson wants to see more from him on the training ground and in those academy games if he is to bump his way up the pecking order.
"I really like Joel. He needs to push harder. He needs to want to take his opportunity," Hudson said of the left-back.
"People can say, 'Well he has not had his opportunity.' But it's every day. I've seen players take their opportunity in training and showcase it day in, day out. He needs to demand more from himself. We are trying to get that from him but it needs to come more from within.
"There are opportunities for everyone to come and showcase what they've got. You've seen selection, everyone has pretty much had an opportunity to take it, not just on the pitch, but down there on the training ground as well."
It's the latest challenge facing Bagan, who has had the backing of every manager since Neil Warnock until this current crossroads at which he finds himself.
A dislocated shoulder which required surgery stopped his progress when Joe Bennett was crocked, Alfie Doughty usurped him at the end of last season and a concussion substitution earlier this season has seen him fall several rungs down the ladder after Collins' injury.
"It was seven minutes. He went up and had a challenge with Scott at Bristol City away," Hudson said, recalling that injury to Bagan at Ashton Gate.
"It's difficult when you've got players in front of you. Callum O'Dowda has played there. We thought that would work with the attacking option at home.
"I'm not saying Joel won't feature, I think Joel needs to push on a bit more. I'm not saying anything to you that I've not said to Joel. 'How much do you want it?'
"When someone would maybe knock on my door and say, 'Look, I really want to get my opportunity and I'm doing it every day', then they'll get it. There needs to be a demand from within."
Whether he gets his chance in the second half of the season appears to be up for debate between now and May, but someone who does seem unlikely to feature again until the 2023/24 campaign is Nigeria international Collins.
When asked if Hudson expected him to play again this season, he said: "I'm planning without him. It was a really bad one. He has been so positive, he is in and around the players every day.
"He is a great character, but I'm not planning to have him back. If he does come back before that then great. I'm never going to rush someone back who has had that type of injury. They just need to focus on what they need to, to get back and available."
Well, it's one fewer obstacle for Bagan to overcome, if there is a silver lining for anyone.
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