OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez must have been contemplating axing Ciaran Clark from his first-team ahead of the international break and the defender’s latest display should have sealed his fate.
The 28-year-old has featured in all of the Magpies’ games so far this season and has struggled to perform to the standard required of him.
Clark was particularly woeful during his side’s 3-1 defeat in the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest as he failed to deliver the goods when deployed at left-back.
The experienced defender, who stands at 6ft 1in tall (Source: Transfermarkt) appeared to have no knowledge on how to stop his Championship opposition nor did he know how to successfully cross the ball into the box when trying to help his side attack.
While that performance was bad enough, Clark’s display for the Republic of Ireland during Thursday’s night 4-1 defeat to Wales may have been even worse.
This may have been the case as the Magpies defender not only submitted another terrible performance but this time he did it at centre-back which is meant to be his strongest position.
Clark was completely outclassed during his display for his nation as when tasked with coping with the attacking threat of Gareth Bale, he made the Welsh winger’s job easy by allowing the world class player to have his own way.
Given that Benitez isn’t exactly struggling for options to play at centre-back, even with Jamaal Lascelles missing, than he can afford to drop Clark from his starting line-up.
As after the Magpies defender’s struggles this season saw him torn apart on international duty than it’s clear that it’s time for the experienced manager to drop the axe.