Central defender Matt Clarke has put pen to paper on a contract until June 2017 with an option for a further season.

The 18-year-old, whose previous deal ran to the summer of 2016 with an option for another season, is on a youth loan with Portsmouth until January 3rd, although the Blues are entitled to recall him at 24 hours’ notice now that he has been with Pompey for more than 28 days.

“I’m obviously delighted and I guess it’s reward for the progress I have made this season,” Clarke told the club site.

“The manager wanted me to go out and play games and that is what I have done at Portsmouth and I’m really enjoying it.

“I’m looking to improve as a player and playing games week in, week out is going to help me do that.

“Playing for Portsmouth has been great for me but I see my future at Ipswich. My goal is to get to a standard where the gaffer feels he can put me in his team here.”

Barham-born Clarke has made seven starts for Portsmouth so far and has helped them to an unbeaten League Two start and up to fourth in the table.

Having come through the Academy, the former Claydon High School pupil made his senior debut for Town in last season’s Capital One Cup first round tie at Crawley - at left-back rather than in his usual central defensive role - and went on to make a further four sub appearances during the Blues' Championship campaign.

Photos: TWTD/ITFC

Photo: Action Images

coolcat added 13:34 - Sep 2 Great news. Good defender. Remember him from last season when he came on as a sub towards the end of some of the games.
2

Guthrum added 13:45 - Sep 2 More good news!
2

PJH added 13:48 - Sep 2 Good to have another of our young players extending his contract. The future as well as the present is bright.
3

Foreverdon_Blue added 13:48 - Sep 2 This is excellent news and it is great to see us securing our younger (and senior) players on long term deals. The future is certainly looking bright!
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:25 - Sep 2 "ut I see my future at Ipswich." That's what we want to hear. Great prospect, and I can see him getting some game time with us after Xmas, maybe.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:26 - Sep 2 "But ... Sorry about the bold type. No idea how that happened.
2

Smithy added 14:36 - Sep 2 can we bring him back to replace Berra and then send him out again once Berra is fit?
0

muccletonjoe added 15:14 - Sep 2 Good news, this lad has everything required to be a top centre half
3

JewellintheTown added 15:30 - Sep 2 In that second picture, has he been given homework to do at his granddads house? Congratulations on the contract, lad. Well deserved.
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pennblue added 16:01 - Sep 2 You just get the feeling that the people running the club have got it by the horns.
2

jas0999 added 17:17 - Sep 2 We could have done with him Saturday! The new polish fella had only met his new team mates that day! Clarke would have been a good option, although his experience at Pompey will do him no harm.
3

blueboy1981 added 18:02 - Sep 2 jason0999 ......... absolutely right - Clarke could, and would, have slotted in far more successfully than someone who had not even met his team mates until the day of the match. Who would ever expect that to be a success ? - against a top team in this League ......... !!!!! Such action would only normally be the result of a desperate situation. Like it, or not - the 'in Mick we trust' judgement has to be questioned on that - before and after the match result.

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hinchers1066 added 18:32 - Sep 2 Ooopppps! gave Blueboy a + should have been a Minus. Hey Ho!!!!!!
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blueboy1981 added 18:56 - Sep 2 ...... beyond me as to how so called ITFC fans could disagree with my post - the situation I comment on would rarely happen in local league Football - and this is the Professional Championship ........... !!!!! But, as we know - some would agree with whatever is served up at Portman Road - not the best recipe for success, may I suggest.
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Slambo added 19:14 - Sep 2 I must say, having two seventeen year olds up against a winger in red hot form seemed risky. But you've got to let the lads earn their spurs. They did ok against Brentford, after all. As for 18 year old Clarke slotting straight into the centre back berth and immediately making the position his own, a little naive, no? But he looks a helluva prospect and i'm so proud that Ipswich are producing high quality youth players again... Blueboy1981 - have a look at my response on that previous thread and give me your thoughts...

1

Fat_Boy_Tim added 22:18 - Sep 2 Blueboy: But what about the above story??!!!! Your thought processes are bizzare to say the least. As it says above he's a centre back who has played at left back, he's also a youth player so why should MM think he should go in ahead of either another youth who IS a right back or an experienced right back who is new to the club?! Anyway, well done all at the club for tying up the contract of another useful youth player. Top news to keep us ticking through the international break.

1

cobsy69 added 22:56 - Sep 2 Great news!
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mojo1972 added 23:02 - Sep 2 Fantastic news
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itfc1981 added 00:10 - Sep 3 Nice to see Cleggy still pops in with his paperclips.
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harlingblue added 02:17 - Sep 3 Great News, his loan move to Portsmouth looks to be working really well, with him gaining much needed match experience, playing in front of a fervent crowd, and Portsmouth getting good results. He has a big future at ITFC.
1

blueboy1981 added 18:12 - Sep 3 Fat Boy Tim .......... entitled to your opinion - just as I am mine. Maybe it's your 'thought process' that's bizarre to say the least.
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