Honda frustrated by AC Milan bench role

AC Milan playmaker Keisuke Honda - who has been
linked with an exit - says he is not used to being a bit-
part player.

Keisuke Honda admits he is finding it hard to sit on the AC
Milan substitutes' bench as rumours of a January departure
from San Siro intensify.

The Japan international has only made four Serie A starts in
2015-16 and has not been included in Sinisa Mihajlovic's
starting XI since the 3-2 win over Udinese on September 22.

Honda has been linked with a move to the Premier League as a
result and he acknowledges it has been difficult for him to deal
with a place out of the team.

"The Milan situation is not easy," the 29-year-old said to La
Gazzetta dello Sport.

"To be on the bench for so many matches is something that has
never happened to me before and I am beginning to understand
how it feels to be on the outside.

"My position with the national team group, fortunately, is
different."

Honda publicly disagreed with head coach Mihajlovic last
month after he criticised the players for a poor start to the
season, a run of results that has since turned around with Milan
now up to sixth in the table after five league matches without
defeat.