What Does the Future Hold for Kyle Naughton at Tottenham Hotspur?

Kyle Naughton joined Tottenham from Sheffield United in 2009 as part of a £9 million deal that also saw Kyle Walker make the same transfer. 

Naughton, two years Walker's senior, was expected to make an immediate impact while Walker was loaned back to the Blades to further his development. 

Naughton failed to make the jump from the Championship, where he had been named in the team of the year, and made just four appearances in his first two seasons. He also returned to the Championship with Middlesbrough and Leicester. 

Since 2012, he has collected 70 more appearances and even occasionally ousted Walker from his starting role.

In that time, he has produced a handful of impressive performances but has routinely underwhelmed. 

Mauricio Pochettino got a first-hand look at Naughton's weaknesses when his Southampton team took an early 2-0 lead at White Hart Lane last season. Surprisingly, that performance wasn't sufficient to dissuade Pochettino from ever selecting Naughton. 

This season, he has played regularly and clearly benefited from the presence of Pochettino. He has played with confidence and defended far better than he did last season, when he was a clear liability. 

However, despite a clear improvement in his performances, Naughton is soon to be Spurs' third-choice right-back. Walker is returning from his eight-month injury layoff and, once fit, will surely become the undisputed right-back again.

To complicate things further, DeAndre Yedlin is also due to arrive at the club soon. Yedlin's transfer had initially been delayed, but he has secured an EU passport and is ready to complete his move. Yedlin is five years younger than Naughton and possesses the pace to become a real weapon in Pochettino's arsenal. According to the Mirror, his deal will be completed in January. 

Naughton has occasionally played at left-back when required, but Spurs now have two solid options there in Ben Davies and Danny Rose. 

Barring an injury crisis, Naughton is unlikely to ever play for Tottenham again. Certainly, with the likes of Ryan Fredericks and even Kyle Walker-Peters, Pochettino would favour the potential of youth over Naughton's proven (limited) ability. 

While he has no long-term future at Spurs, Naughton has a short-term role to play. Walker's fitness will take time to return while Yedlin's suitability to the Premier League remains to be seen. 

Eric Dier and Vlad Chiriches have deputised at time this season, but Naughton remains the superior option. He has the experience and instincts of a full-back while both Dier and Chiriches are only really centre-backs playing out of position. 

Given the fee he will produce, it could be an unnecessary risk for Spurs to sell him in January. He could leave on loan given that the loan window will allow greater flexibility. 

Should Spurs decide to sell him, Crystal Palace, Swansea and Leicester are reportedly among his suitors. 

HereIsTheCity.com suggests that Spurs are happy to sell Naughton in January now that Yedlin's transfer is a mere formality.

"

Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Kyle Naughton, Nabil Bentaleb & Christian Eriksen have been rested for #THFC's Europa League match against #BJK.

— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) December 10, 2014"

Naughton is being rested ahead of Spurs' next match, their Europa League tie against Besiktas, which suggests that he remains a part of Pochettino's immediate plans. 

His improvements this season have made him a serviceable option, and as Spurs shift towards the preferred back line, Naughton can aid in the transition. 

Kyle Naughton is far from a Tottenham legend, but he can help facilitate the development of a top-class right-back rotation. There is little chance that he would stay beyond the summer and could well leave before that point. He has not been the success that fans hoped he might after his debut against Barcelona in a pre-season match, but he has played his part.