I’LL BE BACK, VOWS LEEDS TEEN JACK

JACK CLARKE expressed his appreciation for the outpouring of concern after his collapse towards the end of Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Leeds’ teenage midfielder was released from hospital on Saturday evening, having been rushed there when taken ill at the game. Clarke had started the match for Leeds but was substituted at half-time — though not because he was unwell — and he needed prompt treatment from paramedics before being carried out on a stretcher prior to being taken to hospital for checks. The second-half incident caused a significant delay and 12 minutes of injury time were added on.

Lewis Wing had given the home side the lead early in the second half, but Kalvin Phillips scored a 101st-minute equaliser that took Leeds top of the Championship ahead of Norwich’s game yesterday. Clarke will miss training this week in order to convalesce from an as yet unspecified complaint. He will also miss Wednesday’s visit by Swansea. ‘I would like to thank everyone for the support and love they have shown, it’s massively appreciated,’ Clarke said. Angus Kinnear, the Leeds United chief executive, said yesterday: ‘Jack has had messages from football fans from every club you can imagine and we all really appreciate it. Jack will undergo some more tests and everything is looking well, but he won’t train for the rest of the week.’

Clarke’s agent, Ian Harte, the former Leeds defender, thanked the medics at Middlesbrough and staff at James Cook Hospital. ‘Jack is happy and smiling. Hopefully he’ll be back on the pitch very soon,’ he said.