Hamburg defender Thimothee Atouba has gone awol after failing to return to or even contact his club since the winter break.

Cameroon international Atouba - who has landed himself in hot water several times since joining HSV from Tottenham in 2005 - was last seen by his employers for the December 20th UEFA Cup match against FC Basel, before missing a post-Christmas fitness test on January 4th.

Since then the left-back met up with the national team for the African Cup of Nations and - despite the return of team-mate and Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan - has remained at large following their loss to the Pharaohs in the final.

"We've heard nothing from him since the Basel game," Dutch coach Huub Stevens fumed. "Players who are not here are not important.

It is understood that Atouba, 25, attended a reception held by the Cameroon president following their impressive run at the finals, followed by a party held by the Indomitable Lions' German coach Otto Pfister.

But, while his cousin Joel Epalle has remained in constant contact with his club own club Wolfsburg, bad-boy Atouba has not responded to repeated voice and SMS messages.

"We want to hear from him before we discuss punishments," Hamburg spokesman Joern Wolf added.

It is not the first time Atouba has been in trouble with his club, indeed he has been involved in several high-profile spats with HSV, the highest-profile of which involved making offensive gestures to his own side's fans during a Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow.

"We like players who have something special and Timmi is one of these players," Stevens had said in 2007.

"To deprive him of his character would be robbing him of something special."

Stevens is expected to revisit these comments after recent developments.

Reda Maher / Daniel Rathjen / Eurosport