The return of Leeds United left back Barry Douglas from his injury setback is the one thing which will act as a huge boost to the chances of teenage forward Jack Clarke in the first team, according to journalist Joe Urquhart.
The Scottish full back, who arrived at Elland Road in a surprise deal from Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers over the summer, had been a mainstay for the Whites before seeing himself forced to the sidelines through injury, making his return in the win over Wigan Athletic.
Meanwhile 17-year-old Clarke has been handed three substitute appearances by Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship and speaking on the Inside Elland Road podcast, Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Urquhart revealed having the left back behind him on the wing would be a huge boost to his chances of more game time and even starting.
He told the podcast (32:15): “There’s more chance of him getting a start with Douglas behind him – that bit of experience and know how in the Championship, a bit more quality – having that assured left back behind him, helping him out.
“We know he’s a great little talented player but experience is where he falls down. Having an assured left back behind him is the probably one thing that Bielsa was thinking before, with so many makeshift players down the left side of defence – (that was) the thing that was holding him back from that.”
Opinion
Clarke is the homegrown talent which Leeds fans cannot wait to see more of and it sounds as though they are going to get their wish in the near future. Douglas’ return to the side is a huge boost not only for the teenager but for the entire team and he showed his quality in the win over Wigan. Will Bielsa be tempted to throw Clarke in for a start and see what the youngster has to offer? As tempted as he might be, he is likely to keep the youngster on the bench and hand him more substitute appearances over the next couple of weeks and months just to make sure he is bedded in before giving him his full debut. With a busy schedule over the winter period, Bielsa will have to rotate his side and it will likely be here, if anywhere, that Clarke is going to get his chance in the starting XI.