A lot of Leeds United fans reacted to news that Jack Clarke featured in last night’s Under-23s match.
The 18-year-old winger has barely played at all for Marcelo Bielsa’s first team this year – making just two appearances which both cam in the Carabao Cup.
So, it was a shock for some Leeds fans to see him playing for the youth side.
? Named in tonight's U23s Starting XI, Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton step up their returns from injury, whilst Tyler Roberts features on the bench
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 28, 2019
Like to see abit more of Clarke this year please. Ta
— Glenn Metcalfe (@GMet22) October 28, 2019
I’d forgotten we had Jack Clarke on loan.
— Danny (@skirmishmonkey) October 28, 2019
Did spurs really loan Clarke for him to play in u23 for leeds??
— StrawbzGamer? (@StrawbzGamer) October 28, 2019
Others, though, have had enough of the winger and want him to be sent back to Spurs.
Clarke seems a pointless loan back
— Jamie McEvoy (@JamieMcEvoy) October 28, 2019
Think Clarke is the replacement for Izzy Brown
— stickeys honey (@stickeyshoney) October 28, 2019
Give Roberts are run out send Clarke back to Spurs waste of a loan place.. @PhilHay @andrearadri
— Mark kay (@markkayinoz) October 28, 2019
What do we think?
Clarke is clearly a talented footballer – Spurs would not have splashed out £10m plus further payments for him if they did not think he had some talent that could be nurtured.
Unfortunately, though, Championship loan rules have meant that he has often missed out on a place on the bench, never mind the starting XI.
This is clearly going to hinder his development as a footballer, and by the time he returns to Tottenham, he may have lost a lot of confidence.
Of course, it is not Leeds’ responsibility to play Clarke, and Bielsa must do what is best for the team, but with Helder Costa struggling to have much of an impact, perhaps Clarke would be worth a go.