Simon Dawkins travels to Anfield with Tottenham Hotspur, not in match day 18 against Liverpool

While rumors still have midfielder Simon Dawkins joining the San Jose Earthquakes on loan for the 2012 MLS season, the 24-year old continues to work his way up the ladder at Tottenham Hotspur. In preparations ahead of Spurs EPL clash with Liverpool, the kit room staff prepared Dawkins' jersey in the visiting locker room at Anfield in anticipation that the midfielder might see his first ever first team action. Unfortunately for Dawkins, when the official match day 18 was announced, he was not called into the team.

Team v Liverpool - (poss 4-2-3-1) Friedel; Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Livermore, Parker; Kranjcar, Modric, Bale; Adebayor.

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 6, 2012

Here are our subs tonight - Cudicini, Bongani, Nelsen, Rose, Luongo, Lancaster, Saha.

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 6, 2012

The ongoing saga of whether Dawkins will return for a second season in San Jose survived the uncertainty presented by the January international transfer window in the U.K., but now enters a new phase. Dawkins can still be transferred or loaned to MLS through the close of the U.S. transfer window on April 15. To put the current situation into perspective, last year the deal to bring the midfielder to the Earthquakes was not completed until March 18 -- one day before the start of the 2011 MLS season. This year's process, while not desired by the Earthquakes technical staff to be drawn out in a similar fashion, could take more time to be resolved.

Do the Earthquakes even need a player like Dawkins anymore? Does the signing of Colombian playmaker Tressor Moreno satisfy the attacking midfielder needs of the team? While Dawkins would be a great depth signing at this point, he would not be guaranteed a regular starting role in San Jose.