Marcelo Bielsa asked if Leeds loanee Jack Clarke needs to improve

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Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jack Clarke is yet to feature for Leeds United in a Championship game this season.

Marcelo Bielsa has suggested, in comments reported by Leeds Live, that Jack Clarke needs to battle his way to the front of the queue as he did shortly after bursting onto the scene in the Leeds first-team last season as he explained why the Tottenham loanee is out of the picture at the moment.

Clarke has endured a frustrating spell since returning to Elland Road on a season-long loan immediately after completing a £10 million move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer (fee reported by the Guardian).

He is yet to feature in the Championship with his only starts coming in the Carabao Cup. His situation has not been helped by Leeds having six loanees on their books – that has seen Bielsa leave Clarke out of their last three matchday squads in the league.

That is why Leeds’ Carabao Cup exit this past week could be particularly worrying for Clarke. But Bielsa has seemingly challenged the wide-man to show the same form that got supporters so excited about his potential last season.

“He showed in previous times he’s an unbalanced player. He has to show it again these skills he has. Harrison, Costa, Stevens, Clarke and Pablo can all play as wingers. He’s fighting with these players for a chance. He competed in previous times with Alioski as a winger too. Now he needs to do the same,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live.

“He is fighting for his position like everyone. He is doing this. I am always watching. I analyse the training, cup, Championship or under-23 games and his behaviour and after this I make my conclusions. I am thinking he will be in the team, but sometimes I am right and sometimes I am wrong,” he went on to add when asked if Clarke needs to improve.

The problem that Clarke appears to have is that Leeds’ wide options have performed so well in the early stages of the season. Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez have started all of their league games so far and both have been extremely impressive.

Meanwhile, Helder Costa appears to really be finding his feet following his summer switch to Leeds. So Clarke seems to have a lot of work to do to get back into the picture, and may be relying on some injuries to get his chance in the near future.