Clarke’s goal answers Robinson’s criticism
Ex-England and Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has recently criticised Sunderland loanee Jack Clarke.
When asked by Football Insider for his thoughts on Clarke’s loan spell up until that point, ex-Leeds United man Robinson said: “He should be ripping it up in League One. If you sign from Tottenham on loan you should be head and shoulders above everybody else. He has gone from the Championship to the Premier League, back down to the Championshipandnowdown to League One.
"He should be looking very good at that level, let’s be honest. There is time on his hands but he needs to start producing consistently if he wants to make it at the top level.”
Clarke certainly made an impact during Sunderland’s gameagainstFleetwoodTown.
Clarkestartedinwhatwasa dismal first-half performance from the hosts had left them staring down the barrel of a costly defeat, but some ambitious changes from Alex Neil got them back in the game.
Even so, they had been labouring in search of a winner when sub Luke O’Nien raced onto a loose ball within 15 minutes of his introduction.
After Elliot Embleton had cancelled out Ellis Harrison’s first-halfgoalastunningstrike from Clarke added the gloss to what had for the most part been a difficult night for the Black Cats.
It was a stunning strike and onethatcertainlyansweredhis critics… at least for now.
The 21-year-old joined Spurs from Leeds for a reported £10million fee in 2019 but hasn’t been able to break into thefirstteam–amidloanspells at QPR and Stoke. Clarke was loaned straight back to Leeds on loan for the following campaignbuthardlyfeaturedinthe Championship.