‘He’s so effective…’ Sky pundit thinks 23-year-old Tottenham sold will return to the Premier League

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Jamie Mackie has praised Jack Clarke for his turnaround in Sunderland colours after leaving Tottenham Hotspur.

The 23-year-old started his career as a fresh-faced teenager under Marcelo Bielsa, before Leeds United’s promotion under their legendary manager.

That’s when Tottenham Hotspur decided to snap him from Elland Road in 2019, but he would go on to make only four appearances for the London club.

But Jamie Mackie thinks the ‘effective’ Jack Clarke is now ready to make a return to the Premier League with or without Sunderland, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (14/02/24 at 7:30 pm).

The all-action winger has scored 14 goals and supplied four assists from the flanks this season for a Sunderland side that surprisingly sacked Tony Mowbray and then replaced him with the unpopular, Michael Beale in December.

That unpopularity only grew louder following the Black Cat’s 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night.

Only one point separates Sunderland from a play-off spot, but you imagine, if they don’t return to the Premier League, then Jack Clarke will be a wanted man by those higher up.

Jack Clarke’s transformation

“From what I have seen this season, definitely,” said Mackie on whether Clarke is Premier League quality.

“I think he will end up playing in the Premier League. Before Sunderland had a lot of similar players. They were all very technical. Pritchard played as well, they had players who would inter-change like that. They missed a number nine.

“But Clarke has been so effective. I think he has the ability to play in the Premier League. There is no doubt about that. It’s just the right side – it’s just a case of where and the team has to suit him.”

Jack Clarke is now ready for the Premier League

It needs to be noted when Clarke was first thrust into the limelight, he was still a teenager and very raw in his game.

He was earning a lot of game time for Leeds, before he joined Spurs and didn’t really get a look in.

This wasn’t down to his lack of quality, just the unstable environment he was joining at the time, but now he will be more prepared if he were to make the step up again.

Would a team in a European competition in England snap up his services? There is a chance, but he is certainly good enough for a team trying to push to that level.