Jackett Believes In Clarke
Clarke While At Coventry
By Badge32
April 25 2014
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett today told Leon Clarke his best is yet to come as he insisted the striker has a role to play in the Championship next season.
Leon Clarke is set for a stormy return against old club Coventry tomorrow and is still to convince at his hometown club after one goal in 12 games since his £750,000 move back to Wolves in January.
Head coach Jackett believes the 29-year-old will have an impact at the higher level however.
“I see him having a role next season - I think he’s capable of playing in the Championship,” said the boss.
“I think at times you need a big man up front and he’s a good option.
“The striking department isn’t an area you can be short on.”
Jackett feels Clarke still has something to prove at Wolves.
“I’m sure he has,” he said. “I feel there’s a lot of big centre forwards who come into their own in and around the 30 mark.
“I’m thinking Rickie Lambert, Grant Holt and Steve Morison who I had at my last club, took out of non league at 26-years-old and sold him at 28-years-old for £3m into the Premier League.
“A number of big centre forwards know how to use their body, they have the experience and the calmness in front of goal that maybe they didn’t when they were 21.
“I think he’s in that category and I think the next few years will be his best.
“He hasn’t had that many minutes on the pitch but he’s been substitute a lot and there’s more to come.”
Jackett is confident Clarke can deal with any abuse he faces at Sixfields tomorrow.
“Anything on a personal level I’m sure he’ll see as secondary and take in his stride,” he said.
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I guess Kenny knows better than me but i am starting to wonder what the future at Wolves holds for 20 year old "local lad" as they like to call them. The Carlisle game next week is the perfect opportunity to give him a start but once again i reckon Clarke will be given the nod.
It's similar with Rickie Lambert, he's usually bought up when aging players in their late 20s early 30s are discussed and the general opinion is that they aren't good enough. 'Well Lambert didn't play in the Championship until he was 29 and still went on to be a good Premiership striker' is just one response. I suppose he's keeping the dream alive for all the mediocre journeymen in the lower leagues who are in their late 20s/early 30s and one day might actually play for England.
KJ knows he'll be judged on results and how he spends the cash. £750k for LC still looks a punt at a time where he was moving Doyle, Griffiths and Siggi out.
Hope he comes good, but to me he was never a long term option.
I'm not daft, I know he'll never be Ronaldo but I'm prepared to give him until next Xmas and a FAIR shot at our team. I wish him well.
Call me bitter but I can still remember the Leon Clarke who gave us all the sssssh when he scored against Plymouth in the FA Cup. The Leon Clarke who didn't take care of himself and piled on the weight. The Leon Clarke who had a fight with Jemal Johnson on the team coach (allegedly). I'd have never bought him back, personally.
If Jackett wanted an on form League One striker, I'd have been looking at Clarke's team mate Callum Wilson or, preferably, Peterborough's Britt Assombalonga. Both would've probably cost more but would definitely have been worth it.
Quote:Penn Wanderer
Im prepared to give him a chance. He's yet to have a good run in the team with inuries, niggles and the form of Dicko his Wolves career has been very stop start. If he had'nt already played for us once I think most people would agree he has not played enough to be judged fairly. Because we already know him and dislike him people can't wait to say I told you so over Clarke.
I'm not daft, I know he'll never be Ronaldo but I'm prepared to give him until next Xmas and a FAIR shot at our team. I wish him well.
You can't waste half a season on players who aren't performing though. Look at Cassidy, he was clearly not up to it but Jackett gave him a run in the side and a fair shot but we dropped out the top 2. If he hadn't finally got rid of him and signed Dicko we'd have probably been in the play-offs now.
I'd guess Clarke will be in the squad at the start of next season and I'd also imagine Jackett will want another striker. He'll then be competing with 4 strikers, if he does well in pre-season and gets in the side then he needs to score goals if not then get rid, none of this nonsense about giving him a run in the side for half a season. He's approaching 30 so isn't a kid.
