Phil Hay has suggested that he would not be surprised to see Jack Clarke recalled by Tottenham from Leeds United in January.
The teenage winger joined Spurs from United over the summer, but was loaned back to his boyhood club until the end of the season.
Since then he has struggled for game time, however, and has yet to appear in the Championship this season.
And Hay does not believe that his current situation is a sustainable one.
Writing in a Q&A for the Athletic, he said: “At this rate I can see him [Clarke] going back in January.
“Spurs have the option to recall him then.
“It’s no good for anybody if he’s not even making the squad and he’s the odd one out of the six loanees. It’s not even like injuries can help him, unless it’s a loanee who gets injured.”
What has happened to Clarke?
Honestly, it’s hard to say.
The youngster was arguably the breakout star of Leeds’ season last time around, and off the back of that, it felt as if the expectation was that he would be a key player for United since returning from Spurs on loan.
That expectation couldn’t have been further from the truth, however, and as it stands, Clarke has yet to grace the league so far this term.
Given his form last year, that might seem a little surprising.
Clarke averaged three successful dribbles per 90 minutes last term, as well as two shots on goal and 1.9 key passes, as per Whoscored.
For a teenager, those are impressive stats, but this season he has been consigned to U23 and Carabao Cup appearances.
Whether that is because Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t fancy him based on his current form, or whether the Argentine would rather prioritise playing other options he feels may serve the club better in the long term is difficult to say, but at the moment, this situation isn’t suiting anybody.
Hay knows better than most when it comes to Leeds, and if he says it could happen, then you best believe it could happen.
At the moment, Spurs have no pressing need for a player who can’t even force his way into a Championship side, but equally, they will not want to see one of their young talents rotting away in the reserves.
Don’t be surprised to see a recall followed by another swift loan exit for Clarke.