Steve Bruce hails Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark

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Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark has started in his side’s last five Premier League matches.

Steve Bruce has told the Northern Echo that Ciaran Clark was questioning his decision to leave him out of Newcastle United’s squad recently, but has completely changed his fortunes at St. James’ Park now.

Clark started this season out of the reckoning at Newcastle, with Bruce favouring other options.

However the Irish centre-back has been in wonderful form over recent weeks, and firmly established himself as part of Bruce’s first choice defence.

And Bruce wants Clark’s Newcastle teammates to learn from the example that he has set.

“The one thing you want is competition and Ciaran Clark, who was questioning not being picked in the squad recently, shows how things can change,” he said. “Like today I have left out Javier Manquillo and Yoshinori Muto, it’s the difficult part, and Ciaran has had to wait for his chance.

“He is the perfect example. He works hard every day and when you see someone like him hitting the winner from where he was six weeks ago, not even travelling, is great and highlights to every player how things can change.”

Clark has now started in Newcastle’s last five Premier League matches, with Bruce’s side in solid form.

Newcastle have won back to back games, and have only lost once since Clark came into the team.

The Magpies are now up to 13th place in the Premier League table, and optimism is flooding back to St. James’ Park.

Newcastle are next in action against Aston Villa after the international break.