Exclusive: Never-seen forward tipped to make big impact at Tottenham next season
Tottenham winger Jack Clarke has been tipped to make a surprise impact on the first-team next season by Michael Brown.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Tottenham midfielder delivered his verdict as the 19-year-old featured in Spurs’ pre-season friendly game against Ipswich Town.
Tottenham paid Leeds United a reported £10m for Clarke last summer before immediately sending him back to Elland Road on loan.
However, the 19-year-old struggled to make an impact playing just once in the league for Leeds last season and the loan spell was cut short in January.
The winger subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers where again he struggled, making just six substitute appearances in the Championship, and he has still to make his senior competitive Tottenham bow.
Asked by Football Insider what he expects of Clarke next season, Brown said: “He’s got the potential, we know he’s got that.
“It was just the minutes he didn’t get to play.
“Lets just wait and see what condition he’s come back in. It’s a slightly different game the Premier League than it is in the Championship.
“You wouldn’t be overly surprised if he did get more minutes or was involved in the first-team squad.
“The ability is there. He needs to mature and learn the game.
“It was probably a bit of a misshaped season after his move to Spurs.”
Clarke started just five games for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds before sealing a move to Tottenham but had featured 20 times from the bench.
He contributed two goals and two assists as Leeds finished the season in third.
In other Tottenham news, Football Insider can REVEAL a player is set to jet in from Italy to undergo a medical before signing for Spurs.