Sunderland's Jack Clarke celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Norwich City at the Stadium Of Light, Sunderland on Saturday 28th October 2023. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
While some players are hoping to pave their way into their manager’s plans, others are using it as a reminder of their talents.
Step forward Jack Clarke, who is reminding Sunderland fans, his new manager and his suitors just how much the Black Cats rely on his abilities.
Pre-season a reminder of Jack Clarke’s talents
Sunderland’s pre-season is nearing completion, with the Black Cats scheduled for one more match against Marseille, which will prove a telling test of Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Black Cats recently completed their tour of Spain where they came up against Premier League side, Nottingham Forest, and since returning have faced Blackpool and Bradford City.
Regis Le Bris has used pre-season as an opportunity to rotate his squad as much as possible, as he aims to make crunch decisions on his squad before the Wearsiders’ first competitive fixture against Cardiff City.
One headline to come out of the Wearsiders’ pre-season has been the finishing of Clarke, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League.
Without being at his brilliant best, the winger has shown signs of his intelligent wing play, bringing back memories from last season. Clarke knows how to find his way into dangerous positions and his ability to hit the back of the net is a rare trait.
Albeit pre-season, Clarke has contributed three goals in as many starts for the Black Cats – more than any other Sunderland player. Fans will be intrigued to see how Clarke stands up to Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille, who finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season.
Clarke’s performances suggest that the winger is primed to continue his imperious form from last season, which saw the 23-year-old score a career-high 15 goals.
