Black Cats fans have had their say on whether they would entertain a potential Jack Clarke return to Sunderland.
Sunderland’s January transfer window so far has seen Kristjaan Speakman try his hand in looking for several attackers, but he hasn’t quite had the success of bringing recruits through the doors at the Stadium of Light.
With the impending Deadline Day, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will be hoping that Speakman can get some bodies in within the coming days.
The likely departure of Adil Aouchiche suggests that Sunderland have themselves covered on the left-flank for cover, either with the returning Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle, or alternatively have someone lined up to join the club this January.
One man who has been rumoured to have a possibility of returning to Wearside is Jack Clarke, however, the majority of Black Cats fans don’t seem to be entertaining any prospect of a return for the former Sunderland star.
Sunderland fans make their feelings known about a potential Jack Clarke return
With rumours surrounding the possibility of a return to the Stadium of Light, BBC Newcastle has asked fans whether they would be in favour of Clarke returning, which led to a surprising majority of fans turning against the idea.
One fan suggested, per X, that he would ‘just prefer us to develop Mundle and Watson’ rather than returning to Clarke, with another suggesting that the move would go ‘against our ‘model’’.
The imminent return of both Sunderland wingers Mundle and Watson appear to be decisive for fans, with one suggesting that ‘he doesn’t get a game’ ahead of the pair, as another agreed with his statement that ‘we have the next lads from the conveyor belt (Mundle and Watson) stepping up.
Those in favour were in the minority, but still had their say, with one stating ‘a million times over yes’ that they would seek a return for Clarke, and that was backed up by another fan, who said: “Of course we should. Best player in this league last season and could be the difference between going up or not.”
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How likely is a Jack Clarke return to the Stadium of Light
The Black Cats lost Clarke this summer to recently-promoted Premier League outfit Ipswich Town, but it is safe to say that the move hasn’t quite worked out for the left-winger.
Because of a rule that suggests that a player can’t play for three separate teams in one season, Sunderland is Clarke’s only option for pastures new, something that Ipswich Town may consider if they want their attacker to have the best chance of a return to form.
Nonetheless, as one fan suggested, it does go against Speakman’s philosophy to bring in a player in such circumstances, and it is likely that Le Bris will want to stick with his guns and do what is best for his side, rather than in the interests of a previously departed player.