When Kaizer Chiefs return to pre-season in preparation for the 2024/25 campaign, Happy Mashiane will have to stand up to some questions.
Mashiane will move into his seventh season in the first team at Chiefs and yet he is yet to play regularly in consecutive seasons.
READ | TS Galaxy transfer ban drama player responds: 'I was nearly put in jail'
He was promoted to the first team during the 2018/19 season with Ernst Middendorp handing him his debut through a season in which he made four appearances.
The following campaign, he regressed after only playing twice and then had his best run under Gavin Hunt through 2020/21 after featuring in 26 matches.
Then under Stuart Baxter the following term, it was backwards again with seven games, which then doubled under Arthur Zwane.
Last season, Mashiane struggled with seven appearances.
This means since he made his first-team debut in January 2019, Mashiane has had minutes in 60 games and not been involved in another 145 during which he has sat on the stands or been an unused substitute.
It comes down to a contribution of just under 30% from 'Stevovo', who turns 27 on his next birthday on the first day of the New Year.
These are numbers that should concern the lad from Umnonjaneni Section, Tembisa if he genuinely wants to establish himself as a regular instead of taking comfort in being a mere squad player.
READ | CONFIRMED: PSL teenager moving to Europe
His ability to play both in attack and defence on the left keeps him relevant at Chiefs, but fact is that he needs to play more than he has done so far at the club.
There has been previous interest from Stellenbosch FC.