Many Leeds United supporters have tipped Jack Clarke to leave Elland Road in January, after the Tottenham Hotspur-owned winger left much to the imagination as Stoke City eliminated the Whites from the Carabao Cup.
Clarke left Leeds for Spurs in the summer for a reported £10million plus add-ons (BBC) and put pen to paper on a four-year deal in North London, but immediately returned to his boyhood side on loan for the 2019/20 season.
Marcelo Bielsa has not utilised the teenager’s potential in the Championship, however, as he was an unused substitute against Bristol City and Nottingham Forest before being left out of the matchday squad to face Wigan, Brentford and Stoke (TransferMarkt).
The Potters’ trip to Elland Road in the Carabao Cup brought a raft of changes to the United XI, though, and Clarke lined-up on the left-wing, but he would leave fans dismayed by the full-time whistle for an almost anonymous display.
He linked-up well with Eddie Nketiah for the Arsenal loanee’s best chance of the first half, but rarely offered a consistent threat on the flank and often spent too long in possession when he had the ball to make a real impact on proceedings.
Fans are now suggesting he should be sent back to Tottenham once the winter market opens, or Spurs should activate their recall clause (Football Insider).
The 18-year-old had worked his way through the youth grades at Elland Road before earning his first-team breakthrough under Bielsa last season, and went on to clinch United’s Young Player of the Year award.
He made 25 appearances across all competitions in total last term (TransferMarkt), in a campaign in which he scored twice and assisted two goals – including creating Pablo Hernandez’s match-winning effort at Sheffield United in December to keep Leeds in the automatic promotion places.
A worrying injury in February derailed his season when he collapsed on the bench at Middlesbrough leading to a lengthy delay in proceedings, before being admitted to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and requiring treatment from paramedics.
Many Leeds fans now expect Clarke to leave Elland Road in January after he failed to impress in their side’s Carabao Cup exit at home to Stoke City.
Here are a few of the messages shared…
January can we please send Jack Clarke back and bring in Ryan Kent . Said when it happened I didn’t want him back and he’s just a waste really. #lufc
— Matt. (@MattJLufc) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/THuff1994/status/1166462261340323840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Can see Clarke returning to Spurs in Jan at this rate. Where has that kid of early last season gone? Sad to see. Hope he turns it round #lufc
— A Sense of Leeds United (@LUFCsense) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/stanners_1982/status/1166483157828456448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/LeedsUtdLady/status/1166584409560166400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/Dirty_Leeds94/status/1166612239345946625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The way Jack Clarke is playing, kid has lost it completely since his injury last season, mentality just isn't there. Hope I'm wrong tbh, but seems like we've had Spurs proper to get £10 mil for him. Would love if we sent him back to Spurs in Jan and went in for Kent again #lufc
— Greg Andrews (@TheAndrews89) August 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/cawthornejosh/status/1166628186786009089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Re Jack Clarke, it’s fair to say the loan is a waste of his time & lufc time. We should’ve gone for Cavaleiro maybe he would put more of a shift in & look interested
— Mip (@mipsical) August 28, 2019
Jack Clarke hasn’t played much since he re joined Leeds, wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t sent back to Tottenham in January #lufc #mot
— Connor Mahoney!! BielsaBall and Beer (@ConnorMOT92) August 28, 2019
Friendly reminder that we got £10m for Jack Clarke #lufc
— Luke (@LukeFazz24_) August 28, 2019
