MIKE DODDS admits there is no like-for-like alternative for Jack Clarke in the current Sunderland team, but hopes the Black Cats’ attacking talisman will be available for this weekend’s game against Norwich City.
Clarke was forced to miss Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City due to an ankle injury sustained the previous weekend against Birmingham City.
The 23-year-old was sorely missed, as Sunderland failed to create clear-cut chances throughout their defeat to the Swans.
Dodds admits his team, which began with Callum Styles on the left side and Jobe Bellingham and Abdoullah Ba playing off Nazariy Rusyn, were not at their best over the weekend.
However, with Clarke already scoring 15 league goals this season, Sunderland’s interim manager admits it is nearly impossible to replace the winger.
“We need to make sure that message is very obvious to Romaine (Mundle), Abdoullah, and Naz. I understand that fans will be frustrated, and I wish I could go back in time, but Jack Clarke was not the Jack Clarke he is now when he first joined the club.
“That’s a really important message people need to, not understand because they’re fans and want to win games of football, but from where I’m sitting, we have to make sure we work with the other players to get another Jack Clarke.”
In the near term, Dodds hopes Clarke will be able to rejoin training this week, with the goal of playing in Saturday’s game at Carrow Road. The winger was scheduled to be examined this morning, with Dodds hoping his ankle injury is not too serious.
“That’s what I’ve been told,” stated the Sunderland manager. “He’s ready to go. He’s a big boy who hasn’t missed a single football game since he arrived. He seldom misses training, which is why we expected him to be available (for the Swansea game), but for whatever reason, that has not happened.
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