Pools Defender Just Loves A Big Mac

By Quayle
March 12 2005

The Tranmere captain, Jason McAteer has been highly praised by Hartlepool defender, Ben Clarke who admires the midfielder for how he helps the young lads at every club hes at. CLarke admits Mac was a huge part in his career from his Sunderland days. He thinks McAteer is a great help to any young lad, but he won't hold anything back come 3pm Saturday.

Ahead of the Hartlepool clash, Pool's defender Ben Clarke has spoken out on how he respects the midfielder for everything he has done to help him progress.

Clarke was with Jason when they were both part of the Black Cats clan at Sunderland. Clarke admits at how important the Rovers captain is to the club, speaking to ICLiverpool he said :

"He has played at the highest level for most of his career as well as for his country and now he is doing it for Tranmere.

"He is a Liverpool lad and seems to be loving it over there. In fact, I think he will take over Tranmere one day.

Optimistc, maybe. But perhaps the lads right, McAteer is doing his coaching badges at the club, but even more so Clarke was gazed why, the current captain of Sunderland, was able to go in thie first place. He continued :

"But I was surprised when he left Sunderland. He was doing well and was the captain when I was there.

"I think he felt he could still play at the highest level for at least another season and I totally agree with him. He was one of Sunderland's best players in all the time that I was there.

"Obviously it was the manager's decision but Mick McCarthy has a habit of letting quality go."

CLarke himself left the Stadium of Light back in October to join the Pools race for promotion. He concedes Jason was a huge factor in his development as a player at Sunderland.

"He's mad, but he was always good with the young lads and looked after me when I was there.

"If I wasn't in the team he used to encourage me to keep training hard and would say 'you never know who is watching'. He was spot on, and all the young lads looked up to him.

"Tranmere are a good side with good players, including Jason, and I plan to wind him up as much as I can."

Ahead of the game Clarke realises that both ames have been amplified due to the the recent losses by both clubs. He explains :

"We have got to forget about the last few results and look at tomorrow's game now. It is a massive one.

"The fans can expect a much better performance than last Saturday's 6-4 defeat to Wrexham. We need to get three points to have a chance of staying in the play-off places."

Good luck to both clubs, and lets see a great game this evening!!