Dropped by Ireland, Ciaran Clark must have patience at Newcastle

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Clark’s career has faltered in the last six months, but he remains a good fit for Newcastle United and will get another chance.

Ciaran Clark looked to have stumbled upon a dream move when he joined Newcastle United last season and won the Championship.

Having been completely out of the picture at Aston Villa, he joined a fellow relegated side and excelled as one of the best defenders in the division while his former club struggled.

For the first part of this season, too, he was guaranteed a place in Newcastle’s team and was forming an effective, settled partnership with Shane Duffy for the Republic of Ireland.

Injuries to Florian Lejeune and then Jamaal Lascelles granted Clark a key role on Tyneside, but his season fell apart in November.

Captaining Ireland as they headed into a World Cup play-off, the experience turned sour as Martin O’Neill’s men were thrashed over two legs by Denmark, with Newcastle’s form similarly nosediving.

Clark did not come out of either disappointment smelling like roses, with Rafa Benitez returning to his preferred pair of Lejeune and Lascelles – “their understanding is positive,” he told the Shields Gazette – in a move that now looks to have affected the 28-year-old’s international prospects.

The defender was consigned to the bench as Ireland lost in Turkey last week; while hardly a disaster, it does suggest that O’Neill is looking for other options.

But Clark must stay patient. He is at a club where he has performed in the past and remains only one injury away from a recall.

Another run in the team at club level, showing his class, would surely catch O’Neill’s attention, too, and Ireland’s next competitive fixture is not until next season.

West Brom were interested in Clark less than two years ago – as reported by the Sun – but, while much has changed since then, such a move would likely be to the Championship once again.

Although Clark looked far more comfortable in the second tier than in the Premier League, he must trust in himself to show again that he can be a top-flight defender.