x

McCarthy May Not Extend Clarke's Pompey Loan - Ipswich Town News

Boss Mick McCarthy says he could look to send defender Matt Clarke on loan somewhere else when his spell with Town’s FA Cup third round opponents Portsmouth comes to an end on January 3rd, the 19-year-old having largely been on the League Two side’s bench in recent weeks.

McCarthy says he was pleased by the draw, although disappointed that Clarke would be ineligible if he was still with Pompey at that point.

"I was, except Clarkey can’t play in it," he said. "He played in the last FA Cup game against Accrington.

"He played in that game because he hasn’t been playing. But that’s something I’ll review anyway. He needs to play, Clarkey, so that might be something we have to think about with Portsmouth.

"But they’re a good footballing team and we’ve had them watched a fair bit because we’ve had Clarkey watched, certainly early on. It’ll be an interesting game, it’ll be good.”

Clarke joined the League Two side in August and has made 15 starts and one sub appearance. But prior to the Accrington game last Saturday, he hadn’t started a match since October 10th but said earlier in the week he’d be be up for extending his stay with the Hampshire side.

But McCarthy says if the Barham-born centre-half isn’t going to play regularly while at Fratton Park he’ll look to send him elsewhere.

"If he’s not playing, I won’t [extend his loan],” he added. "I’m not picking [Portsmouth manager] Paul Cook’s team, far from it, and I’ve had this discussion with Paul, otherwise I wouldn’t even dream of talking to you about it.

"He’s got two other lads who have got in the team and are playing well, but Clarkey needs to play. He can be a sub with me, he had that last year. So, if he’s not playing then we’ll change that and get him somewhere else if we can.”

What to read next:

Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Town Women to Host Villa U21s in Friendly
Ipswich Town Women will play a friendly against WSL side Aston Villa’s U21s at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe on Sunday 17th August (KO 2pm).
Town Yet to Open Young Talks
TWTD understands Town are yet to open talks with veteran former England international Ashley Young, but there is interest.