Jack Clarke says he understands the stiff competition he faces from fellow left winger Jaden Philogene for a starting role in the Town side.

The in-form Clarke has scored five goals in his last eight league matches, but has only started on two occasions during that time, with four of his strikes coming as a second-half substitute.

Saturday’s 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion saw the latest of the forward’s heroics, where he struck the only goal of the game with seven minutes remaining to give the Blues a vital three points.

Philogene, who has also scored five goals this term, has been manager Kieran McKenna’s preferred choice from the start, with Clarke more often contributing in his role as super-sub.

“We both want to play games and everybody in the dressing room wants to be playing as many games as possible,” he said.

“When you’ve got someone of Jaden’s talent within the squad, when he’s playing you want him to do well and he has been doing really well.

“It’s not a bitter pill to swallow, you want the team that’s playing to do the best they can and Jaden’s been playing really well.

“We’ve got a talented squad and we’ve got a lot of good players. The manager’s going to pick a team that he thinks is best suited to winning games of football.

“Sometimes it is easier to be a sub, the game opens up a lot more and you can get opportunities and better chances towards the back end of the game. Sometimes it’s not the worst thing in the world.

“Everybody wants to be playing games but we’ve got a talented squad and everybody’s got a part to play.

“Everybody knows the talent we’ve got within the squad, the sort of players that we’ve got and what we’re capable of doing. It’s just about gelling, getting a string of performances, letting momentum carry us and seeing where we end up.

“You’ve always got to be in tune with what’s going on in the game, where they’re strong and where they’re weak. We’ve got a talented squad and everybody’s going to play a part this season so it’s just about being patient and waiting for opportunities.”

Perhaps the most popular goal that Clarke has scored so far this season came in the East Anglian derby against Norwich City earlier this month.

Already holding a one-goal advantage, the 24-year-old scored to set Town on their way to ending the 16-year wait for a victory over the Canaries.

“It was a good moment,” he reflected. “I didn’t realise the magnitude of it until you’re down and involved in it.

“It was a big day and a positive result but we didn’t really back it up after the international break which was disappointing. We managed to get three points [against West Brom] and hopefully we can use that to build.”

His winner against the Baggies and that famous strike against Norwich both came after fellow substitute Iván Azón had gone desperately close to opening his Town account.

The Como loanee was the width of the post and a good save away from his first goal, but Clarke was on hand to gobble the rebound on both occasions.

On Azón, the former Sunderland man said: “He’s doing everything that people could want of him and ask of him. When that first one goes in and he gets a sense of it hitting the back of the net.

“Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don’t, he’s just been really unlucky at the minute. For us as a team, he’s putting himself in the right areas, he’s getting the chances and we can’t ask for much more from him.

“It’s just about putting yourself in the right areas. Iván’s putting himself in the right areas, he’s just getting unlucky, the keeper makes a brilliant save first of all and then thankfully I’m there to put it in afterwards.

“The one against Norwich, you can’t get much closer than the inside of the post. He’s doing all the right things, hopefully one falls for him.”

Having reached five goals already this term, Clarke was asked whether he has a goals target in mind between now and the end of the season.

“I’ve never done anything like that,” he claimed. “You don’t know what’s going to happen in football, so for now I’m just enjoying the present and seeing how well it goes by the end of the season and reflect then.”

Last season, Clarke played consistently at Premier League level for the first time in his career, but has found form easier to come by back in the Championship.

He said: “It’s always nice when you’re doing well. The level of the Premier League is obviously ridiculous so the games that we did play in last year were difficult. I’m not saying these ones aren’t difficult as they pose different challenges, but the experience of the Premier League was enjoyable in itself.

“It’s nice to be scoring and helping the team. I wish I could have done that more last season, but hopefully next season we’ll have the opportunity again and I’ll be able to help more.”

Photo: Matchday Images

WhoisJimmyJuan added 10:46 - Oct 28 I'm a fan of this guy. Great attitude
15

Blooos added 10:54 - Oct 28 Surely we need to be playing them both now. Clarke very good in tight spaces, rarely loses the ball.. must be worth a go in the 10?
5

JewellintheTown added 10:58 - Oct 28 Seems to work best when Philogene starts, so he runs the opposition ragged and wears them out, then Clarke to come on as a super sub and take advantage with his extra energy. Not as effective the other way around. Team game.
8

BildestonBlue added 11:48 - Oct 28 Very impressed with Clarke this season, it takes some strength to keep stepping up when he was being berated. He's doing the Jeremy Sarmiento role perfectly.
9

PortmanTerrorist added 11:53 - Oct 28 I do like Clarke but remain unconvinced by his skillset being a fit for our team. He has still not adjusted to us as well as Philogene has, and so he too often wanders with the ball across the pitch dragging the defence across with him, when quick ball(s) to the other wing would find space. Coming on as sub when spaces have opened up and against more tired defenders works for him/us, and so expect the same 11 to start on Saturday (if Sammy is fit, which seems unlikely) and all of a sudden we have a relatively settled side ! Clarke and the likes of Cajuste will have to step up when given the opportunity...and to be fair Clarke is doing that !

-4

PortmanTerrorist added 11:53 - Oct 28 I do like Clarke but remain unconvinced by his skillset being a fit for our team. He has still not adjusted to us as well as Philogene has, and so he too often wanders with the ball across the pitch dragging the defence across with him, when quick ball(s) to the other wing would find space. Coming on as sub when spaces have opened up and against more tired defenders works for him/us, and so expect the same 11 to start on Saturday (if Sammy is fit, which seems unlikely) and all of a sudden we have a relatively settled side ! Clarke and the likes of Cajuste will have to step up when given the opportunity...and to be fair Clarke is doing that !

-3

Stato added 12:16 - Oct 28 McKenna makes a big deal of how many different pisitions many of his signings can play. So either start them both or explain why we have such an unbalanced squad. Why did we need endless players to play behind Hirst ? All that wasted money could of gone on an upgrade on Hirst and another DM.
0

Gforce added 13:04 - Oct 28 I've always rated Clarke, even at Sunderland i thought he was terrific and was often their best player. Would like to see either Clarke or Nunez in the 10 role on Saturday and definitely Azon also to start.
2

grow_our_own added 13:06 - Oct 28 Agree with Blooos that Clarke should be tried at #10. These two are by far our best attackers this season. Eleven goal-involvements between them. All other players in the three behind striker have managed one. League of their own. We aren't getting the most out of this squad without Jack in the team. Relying on him always performing in the short pitch time he's afforded is risky. Clarke at right-wing didn't work in early season, and Jaden has rightfully locked-down the left berth. Clarke plays with his head-up for a pass more than Philogene, so more suited to central #10.

2

BeattiesBackPocket added 16:15 - Oct 28 Personally think if we play down the route of two defensive midfielders Clarke could play as a 10 as the guy always manages to be there in the box at the right time.
0

armchaircritic59 added 18:00 - Oct 28 We are very fortunate to have JC. He's had plenty of opportunities to have thrown his toys out of the pram since he's been here. Instead he's kept his head down and just kept working. It's now paying dividends and long may it continue, though it's not feasible for him to continue scoring at a goal for every 98 minutes spent on the pitch! ( That figure courtesy of another poster who kindly supplied it ). I expect his chance of appearing more regularly as a starter will occur at some point, he deserves it.

1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls