Ben Clark joins Hartlepool United

By Albatross
October 21 2004

After weeks of rumour and speculation, Hartlepool United have finally announced the capture of Sunderland Defender Ben Clark on a permanent transfer. Is he the answer to some of the defensive problems that have afflicted us this season?

A former Man Utd trainee, Shotley Bridge born Clark was held in high regard at Old Trafford but missed his native North-East and so returned home to sign for Sunderland. He made his debut in a League Cup game with Luton at the age of 17, and has represented England at various youth levels, up to and including captaining the u19 squad and appearing for the u20 side two years ago.

Clark's problem at Sunderland has been partly limited opportunities and partly injury. In the four years since making his debut, he's started just nine games - six of those in Cups - and made five sub appearances. With a mass clearout underway following the Mackems relegation from the Premiership, Clark was expected to make a big breakthrough in 2003/4 and was even handed the number 6 shirt by Mick McCarthy in anticipation of this. After starting three games in August though, he then suffered a broken nose against Preston and needed surgery. By the time he'd recovered, he found himself down the pecking order - and then blotted his copybook somewhat by being sent off in Sunderland's League Cup defeat against Huddersfield on his return to the side.

A Hamstring problem then kept him out until he was called on by Mick McCarthy to play against Pools in the FA Cup 3rd Round - in an unfamiliar midfield role. He impressed though, earning praise from his manager - but then didn't play again for the first team until May, when he made a couple of late Substitute appearances for the Black Cats. After playing in the first game of this season, he was then dropped to make way for Stephen Caldwell; although he came on as a sub in the next game, he had to wait until the Carling Cup defeat against Crewe to start another game. With the arrival of Danny Collins from Chester he has dropped still further out of the picture.

Clark seems to be one of those unfortunate players that gets injured at just the wrong time, or is overlooked in favour of a new signing. His career at Sunderland has never really taken off despite the fact that McCarthy in particular seemed to rate him and had told him he had a role to play on several occasions - and so, with Sunderland having plenty of cover Clark has switched to Pools. The article on the official site seems to indicate that he can also play at right back as well as centrally - providing us with more cover in what has been a problem position for some time.

Clark will join up with the squad in time to be considered for Saturday's game at Peterborough - and there's been further good news for Cooper at least as far as Saturday goes: Mickey Nelson won't miss the game after all. It was widely believed that he'd be suspended after picking up a booking against Brentford - but although the time for suspensions to take effect has been reduced, it's not - as most thought - immediate. He will miss the game with Port Vale, but can return to the place where he made his debut and his name for Pools last season.

Clark's arrival is in many ways just what the Doctor ordered. We've struggled at the back; the club has been the subject of much debate about money (or lack of it) for new signings; now we have a defender signing permanently. Will he go straight into the first eleven? I'm not sure, but if he doesn't then Nelson and Westie know that he's going to be itching to take one of their places, and that can't be a bad thing.