THE £10M MEN
Clark backs Rhodes to fire Wednesday to the Premier League and prove Boro wrong
LEE CLARK is reminded of Jordan Rhodes at his prolific best every time he glances at a picture on a wall at home. The image captured is Clark embracing his striker after Rhodes struck all four goals for Huddersfield in a draw at Sheffield Wednesday in December 2011.
‘It’s me and him, it’s a manager and player who had a fantastic bond,’ said Clark. ‘I’ve just got so much time for the lad. The picture depicted the relationship we had and my admiration for him. I congratulated him on a fantastic individual performance that was so typical of Jordan.’
Clark is convinced Rhodes will not have forgotten the knack of scoring at Hillsborough, either. The Kilmarnock manager fully expects Wednesday’s new signing to summon up those skills over the next four months and book himself and his new club a quick return to the Premier League.
Rhodes made a fine start to life at his new club on his debut on Friday night at Wigan by providing the assist for fellow Scot Ross Wallace to move Wednesday back into the play-off positions with a 1-0 win.
Motivation for Rhodes could not be stronger. He was bundled out of Middlesbrough, initially on loan with a view to a £10million transfer, after scarcely being considered fit for top-flight purpose by manager Aitor Karanka. Two starts, four substitute appearances and no goals since a belated Premier League debut in September.
Yet this time last year, Karanka banked on the Scotland striker restoring Boro to the elite and it worked. There were only six goals following a £9m move from Blackburn but each one was worth a point or three to lift them over the line. Boro beat Brighton to automatic promotion on goal difference.
The assumption is that Rhodes will never make the scoring grade at the top level for club or country. That he has dropped down to a needy Championship club requiring his secondtier scoring touch to strike again, before being cast aside once more.
Clark points out Rhodes is only 26 and has the scope to improve — and prove his class in the Premier League.
‘Jordan really wasn’t given the opportunities to stake a claim at Middlesbrough this season,’ said Clark.
‘Until he’s given a good run of games, we don’t know whether he’s good enough. I certainly think that he is. He will be able to handle it.
‘When I had him in League One, there were questions about whether he was good enough to score in the Championship. Well, he proved that over and over again with a record that, frankly, was ridiculous.
‘I’ve heard everything that was said — that he’s not strong enough or doesn’t link up. But whatever challenges he’s faced, he’s overcome them. He won’t view this move as a negative. He will see it as an inspiration to get there again and to prove to people he can handle it.’
As Rhodes went to town on League One opposition in Clark’s Huddersfield team, scouts from all the top teams in England flocked to watch as he racked up 40 goals in 46 appearances.
He recorded 33 for Huddersfield, Blackburn and Scotland in 2012/13 when stepping up a level. Then 25 and 21 in the subsequent Championship seasons. As he returns to the division, Rhodes admits he was ‘hurt’ by not being selected for Middlesbrough.
Clark hopes that Rhodes will not be affected by one missed chance to make the breakthrough and will simply make the most of his new opportunity.
‘He enjoys playing at Hillsborough where his father Andy is the goalkeeping coach,’ said Clark. ‘He can bang in the goals to get them to the Premier League.’