Liverpool sold academy midfielder Bobby Clark two years ago, and the 21-year-old has thrived away from Anfield.
Clark went to Derby County on loan from RB Salzburg in search of more minutes, and he found them with the Championship side. His side are currently eighth in the table, just three points outside of the play-offs, and the Liverpool academy graduate is being recognised for his contributions this season.
Clark has been nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Year award, and it’s what every Liverpool fan wanted to see upon his departure. Let’s have a look at the body of work that earned him a spot on the four-man shortlist.
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Bobby Clark’s case for Championship Young Player of the Year
Derby have come on leaps and bounds this season, and Clark has been central to that success.
Last season, they finished just one point above the relegation zone, and this term they are competing for promotion to the Premier League.
Clark has three goals and three assists from the deep-lying midfield position, but that’s not the most impressive aspect of his game.
He is a workhorse — likely due to coming through in the Jurgen Klopp era — who can break up play and progress the ball. His 5.82 recoveries per 90, 1.08 successful dribbles, and 2.60 touches in the opposition box place him in the top 20% in his position in the second tier.
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His chances at the award could come down to whether Derby can work their way into the top six with five games to play.
Clark struggled at Salzburg last season, and the decision to loan him back to England has proved absolutely spot on. He’s playing with more confidence and there’s every chance he kicks on now when he returns to Austria.
Jurgen Klopp embracing Bobby Clark
Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
At just 21, there’s still plenty of time for improvement, but the level he’s at currently is nothing to sniff at. The concern with Clark at Liverpool was a lack of physicality for a Premier League midfield, but his frame is filling out, and his decision-making has only gotten better.
All that without mentioning the Englishman’s ability to play in multiple roles, including as a number 10 or left-winger.
It will be intriguing to see where his main position ends up being, but he has all the tools for a successful senior career. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see him back at Liverpool someday.
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