Ciaran Clark joined Newcastle United from Championship rivals Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has suggested to The Shields Gazette that he has been impressed with the performance of Ciaran Clark so far this season.
Clark joined Newcastle from Championship rivals Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.
According to BBC Sport, the Magpies had to pay the Villans a transfer fee of £5.1 million in order to secure the services of the 27-year-old defender.
Benitez has spoken highly of the Republic of Ireland international, who can also play as a midfielder.
The Newcastle manager has stated that Clark gives his side balance by playing from the back.
The former Villa defender featured in the Magpies’ Championship game against Rotherham United away from home at the weekend.
The Republic of Ireland international started the match at the AESSEAL New York Stadium and played for the entire 90 minutes.
When asked about Clark’s performance against Rotherham, Benitez told The Shields Gazette: “He’s a player with experience.
“And also, because he’s left-footed, he can give us a little balance by playing balls out from the back with his left foot.
“When we brought him here, we knew that he had experience of the Premier League, and so we knew we were signing a good player. He is showing that every week.”
| Season | Passing Accuracy | Tackles Won | Interceptions Won | Ball Recovery | Headers Won | Outfielder Blocks | Effective Clearances | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciaran Clark | 2016-2017 | 82% | 6 | 11 | 32 | 24 | 5 | 39 | 6 | 540 |
Newcastle, who got relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, are third in the Championship table at the moment.
The Magpies have picked up 22 points from 11 matches, just three fewer than leaders Huddersfield Town.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
