Sources: Clauses mean Leeds face losing loan star in January

By Wayne Veysey

Leeds United face the prospect of losing Jack Clarke in the January window due to clauses included in his loan transfer from Tottenham, Football Insider has learned.

The teenage winger's situation has become a talking point after he was omitted from the United matchday 18 for Wednesday's 1-0 Championship win over Brentford at Elland Road.

It was the second consecutive game in which Clarke missed out completely despite being fit and available for selection as he was once again the victim of the EFL's strict rule on loan players.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider that Tottenham have the option of recalling the 18-year-old in the mid-season window.

The Premier League giants could look to exercise that if Clarke continues to be the odd man out at the Championship club so soon after his £9million transfer.

The rising star has not had a minute of league football yet this season - he was an unused sub in the first two of Leeds' four Championship games - and has been restricted to just a 70-minute run-out in the League Cup and Under-23s football.

Tottenham could decide that Clarke's future is best served being part of their development squad rather than the second-tier club's if the situation continues.

EFL rules allow five loanees in a match-day squad and at Wigan last Saturday and against Brentford on Wednesday, the big-money Spurs signing missed out.

Ben White and Jack Harrison were named by manager Marcelo Bielsa in the Leeds starting XI, with back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined on the bench by Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa, who combined for the game's only goal scored by the on-loan Arsenal forward.

In other Leeds United news, one White has been described by BBC pundit as a "man possessed" who is "doing impossible things" for the club.