Jermaine Pennant might have spent more than a decade as a Premier League footballer, but the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger is now desperately trying to find a gig in Asia.
Pennant, who turns 33 this month and also played for Stoke and Birmingham City, has been handed a week-long trial with Singapore club Tampines Rovers, who play in the country’s S. League, in the hope he can convince them to sign him to a longer contract.
The Englishman spent last season at Wigan, where he failed to prevent the club’s relegation to League One, and also spent part of 2014 with Indian side Pune City, but it is a sad reflection of his current standing in the game that he is now reduced to trialling for teams in Asia.
Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra said: “Pennant’s a pedigree football talent … we were approached by his agent for him to try out at Tampines Rovers, we felt he was a good enough talent to warrant a trial with us.
“He has been out here to Asia before so he knows what is required. I believe Pennant is on a personal journey to re-establish himself as a player and that could be good for football because you have someone who is motivated to prove his detractors wrong.
“If we do take on Pennant, it will have to be initially for a short period of time – so that he can prove himself as a positive influence for the Stags.”
Here’s hoping the trial goes well.
