Jack Clarke took a backwards step on his loan from Tottenham Hotspur yesterday afternoon.
The 20-year-old winger left Spurs to join Stoke City on a half-season loan during the January transfer window.
And it’s been a very decent stint in the Championship for Clarke so far, but Saturday was a low point.
Coming up against his club team-mate Oliver Skipp, Clarke was taken off at half-time in the 4-1 defeat away to league leaders Norwich City.
The former Leeds star, a £10 million signing by Tottenham in 2019, has flourished under Michael O’Neill in recent weeks.
It was only 2-0 when O’Neill brought him off and suffice to say that some Stoke fans were absolutely furious with their Northern Irish manager’s decision.
Here’s how they reacted on Twitter:
Clarke has previously struggled in the Championship.
Yes, his form for Leeds in this division is what led to Tottenham spending £10 million on him, but he had two separate loans back in the second tier last season and neither went well.
Confidence is a huge thing for a young player and you hope for the sake of Clarke’s development that O’Neill hasn’t set him back.
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