Jack Clarke is facing a crucial pair of matches that could determine the future of his Ipswich Town career, with Sunderland closely watching the situation.
Since joining Ipswich in the summer, the former Sunderland player has struggled to find form, and his move to the Premier League has not gone as expected. Ipswich fans have been critical of Clarke, with some treating him as a scapegoat following each disappointing performance.
Although Ipswich hasn’t been particularly impressive since returning to the top flight, the next two games are critical for both the club and Clarke himself. The first of these fixtures sees Ipswich travel to Molineux to face Wolves on Saturday afternoon, with the Midlands side still under the leadership of Gary O’Neil, despite a poor run of results. After that, Ipswich will host Newcastle United, a team that has also struggled to find consistency this season.
For Ipswich to stay in the Premier League, they must secure at least four points from these two matches, although six points would be ideal. Clarke, in particular, needs to step up and deliver either a goal, an assist, or a couple of strong performances to win back the fans’ support and get his career back on track. If he doesn’t, he may have to consider his options, with Sunderland potentially offering him a fresh start in January.
A week ago, most Sunderland fans would likely have said they were not interested in bringing Clarke back to the Stadium of Light. The rise of Tommy Watson, who drew comparisons to Clarke, had fans excited about the teenager’s potential to help Sunderland’s promotion hopes.
However, Watson is now sidelined for two months due to injury, leaving Regis Le Bris to find a suitable replacement either from within the squad or through a January signing. Given the circumstances, bringing Clarke back to strengthen Sunderland’s wing options now seems like a viable move. While Clarke will be hoping to avoid taking a step down, he may have little choice if his next two games don’t go well.
