, Leeds United should forget about ‘development’ and put Jack Clarke out for a full 90

Leeds United should forget about ‘development’ and put Jack Clarke out for a full 90

Whichever way you look at it, through the cold light of reason, or the warming haze of too much ale, the answer remains a constant.

Leeds United simply have to give Jack Clarke a full 90 minutes.

Not ‘in time’, nor ‘as part of his ongoing development’, the time for Jack Clarke is NOW. Clarke has shown, in his last two performances after coming on as a half-time impact sub.

In coming on so, he’s shown up two supposedly more regarded players than himself in Chelsea’s Lewis Baker (replaced vs Bolton Wanderers) and Manchester City’s Jack Harrison (replaced vs Aston Villa).

Whilst he is not ‘the destroyer of reputations’, Jack Clarke definitely does give Leeds United a certain degree of impetus when he comes on. He did against Bolton in the torrential Lancashire rain last Saturday, and again today at Villa Park.

Within moments of coming on against Bolton, Clarke was in the Trotters defenders’ faces. It was his run at the retreating Wanderers that set up the sumptuous nutmeg pass from Pablo Hernandez that, in turn, set up Patrick Bamford’s goal.

Against Villa he had even more of an impact. 11 minutes in and Clarke makes this happen:

Fearless. Simply fearless. He turned, and twisted, Ahmed Elmohamady so much in that mazy run that the 86-cap Egyptian international corkscrewed himself into the ground…almost.

That’s what Jack Clarke offers, that unbridled, unfettered air of supreme confidence that only youth can bring. It is that youthful exuberance that allows Clarke to drive at opponents, ask Elmohamady that.

Whilst it is understandable that Marcelo Bielsa wants to preserve the talents of Jack Clarke, using the idea of ‘development’ as a football version of cotton wool, it’s a little counter-productive.

Jack Clarke is fully wound, he needs releasing and releasing soon. Surely a full 90 minutes is just around the corner, isn’t it?

Previous Article
Aston Villa

Alex Bruce confirms why Aston Villa loaned out Tommy Elphick to Hull City

Next Article
, Ireland boss confirms Leeds United star to be pressed on international aims

Ireland boss confirms Leeds United star to be pressed on international aims

Related Posts