Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’s received great feedback from Portsmouth manager Paul Cook regarding on-loan defender Matt Clarke.

The 18-year-old, who extended his Blues contract to June 2017 with an option for a further season earlier in the week, has started seven games for Pompey so far with the Hampshire club currently fourth in League Two.

“They’re delighted with him,” McCarthy said. “They’re telling me everything I told them before he went - great lad, good player, good defender, you can hang your hat on him, he can play.

“All those things which I already knew and I thought he would be great for them and that’s what’s happening, they’re delighted with him.”

McCarthy has said Clarke is already good enough to play in the Town first team despite his youth with only the form of his senior defenders preventing the Barham-born Academy product from making more than one start and five sub appearances last season.

“He’s beyond the U21s, that was becoming comfortable for him and he needed to be challenged,” the Town manager added. “He needed to be taken out of that comfort zone.

“He would have played for me last year had the situation arisen. He didn’t because I had Chambo, Tommy Smith, Christophe Berra, Tyrone Mings and Jonny Parr, and they were fit for the most part.”

Clarke is with Pompey until January 3rd on a youth loan, which allows the Blues to recall him at 24 hours’ notice if required now that he has completed first 28 days of his spell.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 07:18 - Sep 4 So i would hope to see him in the Town squad in the second half of the season.
2

Suffolk_n_Proud added 07:47 - Sep 4 Think it would turn into a reason long loan with 24 hour recall, possibly to a league 1 club in January. We have enough cover without injuries.
3

mickswich added 08:00 - Sep 4 Suffolk sorry I down arrowed accindently
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miltonsnephew added 08:47 - Sep 4 Such a massive shame about MINGS Ruled out for the season!!! Get well soon
11

PJH added 09:03 - Sep 4 Looks like he could have a very bright future with us.
2

JewellintheTown added 09:15 - Sep 4 @miltonsnephew - yeah, real shame for Mingsy. 6 mins pitch time on your Premier league debut and then out for the rest of the season and then removed from the updated squad must be a young/ new players worst nightmare. Hope he keeps mentally strong as this could set his career back big time if he doesnt. Best wishes to him on his recovery.
3

muccletonjoe added 10:14 - Sep 4 A season loan to pompey would stand mattie Clarke in good stead for a permanent role here next year. Really depends on our injury situation at Christmas
2

brassy added 10:20 - Sep 4 also like to add my best wishes to mingsy
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Palestine added 10:44 - Sep 4 Oh Jeez. M y boy Mings. Gutted for him, totally gutted. Think this was worth a TWTD story in itself. :/ Get well soon Tyrone, keep positive.
3

blueboy1981 added 16:42 - Sep 4 PJH ............. absolutely right. Let's just hope he get's his chance to achieve that with us, shall we ? ..... !!!
4

jas0999 added 18:25 - Sep 4 No surprise. Still great experience for him, but alas as I said the other day, would have been a better option to the Polish fella last Saturday, who had only met his team mates on the day! Shocking really. Clarke could have played in that game with Chambers at right back. He has more experience than Emmanuel.
2

PJH added 18:28 - Sep 4 blueboy-there is no reason to assume he will not get his chance with us.MM obviously rates him and I think in due course he could establish himself in the first team here. If he does not,I do not think it will because he does not get a chance. If MM did not see a future for Clarke at Portman Road,I do not think he would be talking in such glowing terms about him.
1

TractorRoyNo1 added 19:42 - Sep 4 Fingers crossed that Mings recovers to at least play one game in the Premier League with B'mouth
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blueboy1981 added 20:08 - Sep 4 jason0999 ....... spot on - beggars believe that some don't don't see it that way, but I guess it's time I wasn't surprised anymore. Can only assume that some have no idea what they're watching.
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PJH added 20:16 - Sep 4 jas0999-Clarke could NOT have played in that game because he is on loan at Portsmouth and therefore not available to us. If he had not been on loan he may well have played in that game. Team could only be picked from those available. No need for you or blueboy to take facts into account though.
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battyblue added 10:01 - Sep 6 May be MM will not be manager here next season
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