Paul Tisdale accepts "there will be interest" in Bristol Rovers left-back David Tutonda, but the manager has not made a final decision on the player's future.
The 25-year-old has been out of favour since Tisdale replaced Ben Garner in charge two months ago and was an unused substitute for the EFL Trophy tie against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, despite the manager fielding a much-changed side.
Tutonda has not played a single minute since featuring in Tisdale's first game on November 21, but had impressed earlier in the season.
Rovers have four left-backs on the books. Luke Leahy has won the starting spot ahead of Michael Kelly, Ali Koiki, and Tutonda, and Tisdale has decisions to make on players' futures before the transfer window closes on February 1.
"I know there will be interest in David," Tisdale said. "I haven’t made up my mind yet. We’ve potentially got four left-backs at the club and we’re playing a back four and that limits the opportunities.
"David is one of those whose opportunities have been limited by the change of shape.
"There’s still two weeks to do and as a manager I have to look at the next four or five days and the next game, the next four or five weeks which is nine or 10 games away, and I’m looking five months from now because we get to the middle of summer and I’ll be making plans for next season.
"In one decision, picking a team for this week, might not match up to five months from now and I’ve got to get the balance right.
"David is a really good example of that. Because he’s not picked on Tuesday doesn’t mean he’s not playing in our left-back spot next season.
"It’s a hard thing for any player to deal with, they all want to play football. For every player, every week is the most important week of their career whether their 18 or 38.
"It is difficult, I’ve got too many players in certain positions and I’ve got to get myself through that conundrum and sort it out in the next two weeks, but a lot can change and I’m certainly not writing anybody off at the moment, least of all David."
The recently-implemented 22-man squad limit means Tisdale must cut members from his group at the end of the month, and there is sure to be some trimming at left-back with four players registered.
With Koiki is viewed as a winger as well as a left-back, it appears Tutonda and Kelly could be vying for one place in the squad.
"We’ve got two more weeks, that is a long time in football," Tisdale added.
"Quite clearly, we’ve got four left-backs for one position. Ali Koiki has been able to play further up the pitch and he’s learning that part.
"I do have weigh it up and get a balanced view. I have a lot of pressure on that and I’m certainly not putting my name to any player who should be leaving yet because I’m weighing up the next five days and the next five months."
Tisdale confirmed signing a striker before the end of the month is a "priority" for the Gas, but he does not expect any business to be completed before Saturday's League One clash with Charlton Athletic.
"It’s certainly a priority and with a doubt over Sam Nicholson at the moment and how long he’s going to be with his niggling injury," the manager said.
"James Daly is a long-term injury, but I hope he won’t be too long, but until someone’s back and fit you can’t guarantee it.
"It’s a priority to me under normal circumstances, even with a normal squad I’d be saying the front line is so important, it’s the engine of your train.
"If your front line doesn’t function, you can’t play to it no matter how good your play is in other areas.
"It’s very clearly a priority to me and I need to get business done well and if I don’t we will have to make compromises or alter the way we play because we play to the front line and we’ve got to get the best out of the players who are playing."
