Well this doesn’t help us at all.
There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of 18-year-old Jack Clarke, with reports circulating this week that Spurs are set to recall the young winger.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa was given the opportunity to address the reports, however he didn’t exactly give much of an update. Speaking in his press conference yesterday, Bielsa told the media about how Clarke still might have a future at Elland Road:
“I am really satisfied with the development of Jack, he is at a good level of fitness, technically he is full, he is complete, and his attitude is very good. He competes with three other players. I am satisfied working with Clarke and I am sure he is going to be necessary and important for us.”
This is probably the obvious response to a quote like that, but I’ll say it anyway. If he’s technically complete, has a good attitude and his fully fit, then why isn’t he playing in the first team?
There must have been a purpose for him to have been brought back on loan in the first place, however I can’t imagine the grand plan being to keep him in the U23s all season. Now we shouldn’t necessarily be surprised by his lack of minutes, given that he only completed 90 minutes for us once last season, and didn’t really break into the team until October time in a game against Brentford.
If Bielsa’s plan was to hold him over until later in the season as players get injured, you could have used other players in the academy, such as Alfie McCalmont for that. You could even have asked to bring Clarke back in the January transfer window. To hold him back like this when he’s capable of playing though, just seems baffling.
What about you? Are you as confused about the quote from Bielsa as I am? Or do you think that Bielsa is actually handling the situation properly?