Former Sunderland star Jack Clarke has the opportunity to prove himself next season amid Ipswich Town’s relegation to the Championship.
Sunderland supporters are all too familiar with the magic coursing through Jack Clarke’s boots of which Ipswich Town fans have failed to enjoy this season.
After three seasons in red and white, Clarke swapped the Stadium of Light for Portman Road back in August, in a package deal worth a bumper £20million with add-ons included.
Clarke had been targeted by a plethora of elite clubs last summer, including West Ham and Lazio, before the Tractor Boys secured the left-winger’s services.
The wideman was “really excited” by the move to the Premier League, but his maiden season in English football’s top flight proved to be a nightmare for the former Leeds United youngster.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Jack Clarke has chance to redeem himself in Championship next season
Clarke departed Wearside after scoring 28 goals in 114 outings for the Black Cats, buoyed off the back of his outstanding 15-goal campaign in 2023/24 despite Sunderland’s 16th-placed finish.
Newly appointed Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris afforded Clarke two appearances in the early stages this season, with Clarke scoring once and assisting once, before his eight-figure move to Ipswich.
However, Clarke’s dream move to the top flight has failed to live up to the lofty expectations set by second tier supporters, with the winger failing to score in 31 Premier League games under Kieran McKenna this season.
McKenna’s Ipswich suffered instant relegation to the Championship and this has given Clarke’s career a lifeline.
Speaking via the Independent, in defence of Clarke, McKenna recently said: “You can’t underestimate the jump and the change for someone like Jack (Clarke),”
“We’ve probably got a few players in that category, signing late in the transfer window, into a new group, never played in the Premier League, joining a club that hasn’t been in the Premier League for 22 years.
“Trying to settle into all that change in the toughest league in the world as an attacking player is not easy.”
Statistics Jack Clarke in 23/24 Championship Jack Clarke in 24/25 Premier League
Games played 40 (39 starts) 31 (12 starts)
Goals 15 0
Assists 4 4
Shots on target 47 2
Chances created 91 27
Minutes played 3,501 1,150
Jack Clarke in 23/24 and 24/25 season compared, data as per Fotmob
McKenna added: “We know how talented he is. He’s a player who we signed to help us this year, which he is, and for the future as well. I’m sure he’s going to keep improving.”
The 24-year-old’s trademark mazy runs inside the left flank culminating in an emphatic finish were adored by the Black Cats faithful, and his approaching Championship return has allowed Clarke to prove his sufficient transfer fee is justified for Ipswich.
Championship return with Ipswich Town can get Jack Clarke’s career back on track
Zero goals and four assists in 31 league appearances for Ipswich Town this season is pale in comparison to Clarke’s 15-goal return in the Championship only one season before.
Romaine Mundle has stepped into Clarke’s shoes admirably after a mid-season loan return was rumoured with Clarke as he failed to get out of the traps at Ipswich.
Ipswich’s ill-fated season was symptomatic of Clarke’s. McKenna’s men endured the lowest average possession (40.3%) in the top flight, had the fewest touches in the opposition box (613), and ended 18th for goals per match average (0.9).
McKenna has admitted this season, via the TWTD, that: “We weren’t getting hold of the ball enough and Jack Clarke I think is going to be a terrific asset for us in terms of wanting the ball all the time,”
“He wants to hold the ball, he wants to hold off defenders, he wants to carry the ball up the pitch, he’s really clean technically.”
The aforementioned Premier League statistics prove Ipswich’s fate has hampered Clarke’s ability to express himself and showcase the abilities that saw the Tractor Boys invest £20million in him.
Ipswich will no doubt be a dominant force in the Championship next season, and the buffer in quality presents the perfect opportunity for Clarke to rejuvenate his career, by proving this campaign was a bump in the road rather than his top speed.