It was back in August when Carl Jenkinson, having signed for Birmingham City on loan, expressed a desire to play for England again.

“My main ambition is to play for England again,” he said. “I want to crack on and play at the highest level again, whether that’s at Arsenal, time will tell.

“I’m not focusing too much past this season. I’d like to play for England again and that’s a goal in the back of my mind and I fully believe I can do that but for the time being I’ve just got to focus on the short term and that’s getting in the team and playing here.

“That’s something I’ve set myself and I fully believe I can do it. I’d love to pull on an England shirt again and that’s one of the goals for the rest of my career.”

Injuries stunted Jenkinson’s development at Arsenal and this is his second loan spell away from the Emirates Stadium; he spent the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons at West Ham United.

Birmingham, though, seemed like a better place for Jenkinson to revive his career and put himself in a position to earn a recall to the England squad, which he hasn’t been a part of since 2012.

Yet his dreams of donning the Three Lions once again are diminishing with each passing week.

What's happened to Jenkinson at Birmingham

Jenkinson has made just nine appearances for Birmingham in all competitions and in last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Hull City, he failed to make the matchday squad.

According to the Birmingham Mail, the 25-year-old wasn’t even in contention to start against Hull. Wes Harding started at right-back and Marc Roberts was the second choice.

Pretty sad to hear.

Jenkinson’s first game at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s stadium was a sign of things to come.

Jenkinson may never play for Birmingham again

He struggled as the ring wing-back in a 3-5-2 system and later dislocated his shoulder following an aerial challenge.

That’s part of the reason why he’s been reduced to such limited action. His record when he has played is probably the other.

Seven league matches, seven defeats. Awkward.

Jenkinson should have had no problems making a starting spot his own at the Championship club. The fact that he hasn’t says a lot about where his career is headed.

The Birmingham Mail’s report also highlights it’s unlikely the defender will play for the club again this season, with a number of players above him in the pecking order.

Back in the England setup? That seems little more than a pipe dream right now.