OPINION
Paul Heckingbottom hinted that Jack Clarke could soon feature in Leeds United’s first-team, and the Whites manager should be bold and play the striker sooner rather than later.
Heckingbottom was asked when supporters would see the highly-rated 17-year-old in Leeds’ senior team, and the manager suggested that while he is impressed, there’s a lot of players ahead of him in the pecking order.
“Possibly, yes, possibly,” said Heckingbottom in his press conference ahead of the game against Bolton, as quoted by Leeds Live.
“Jack’s got a lot of competition in front of him, though, in terms of the role he plays in a team and his position.
“He’s someone whose done well now for a long time as a schoolboy stepping up and playing 18s, and now an 18 playing in the 23s.
“He’s been performing well, so yes, he’s one that the club have to manage properly.”
However when looking at who Heckingbottom opted to play in Leeds’ last game, it’s hard to know why there isn’t room to give Clarke an opportunity soon.
Caleb Ekuban led the line for the Whites’ in their last match against Sheffield Wednesday, which they lost 2-1, and he can’t be the one keeping Clarke out of the team.
The 24-year-old has failed to score in any of his 13 Championship appearances this season, with him looking more likely to blast the ball away from goal than in it.
Clarke may be only 17-years-old but he recently put in a dazzling performance against Cardiff City’s U-23s, grabbing two assist to help his side win 3-0.
The youngster is no doubt confident from putting in displays of that nature and that will translate to any appearance he makes in the first-team before the end of the season.
Heckingbottom has only won one game since becoming Leeds boss, and his side are comfortably safe from relegation, sat 14th, while being too far off the play-off positions to make a last minute push.
Therefore there would be no harm in handing Clarke a golden opportunity to impress in the Championship in the games that remain.
The performance of fellow Leeds youngster Tom Pearce, in the match with Sheffield Wednesday, show that it’s worth calling up players from Leeds’ Academy as it’s brimming with first-team ready talent.
Heckingbottom previously stated, as quoted by Leeds Live, that if there’s “a young player coming through and bursting past lots in the first team, then brilliant, he can play.”
So with that in mind, Heckingbottom should put his money where his mouth is and feature Clarke in his team sooner rather than later, as the 17-year-old is clearly bursting past first-teamers in the pecking order.