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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Leeds’ Jack Clarke was at best a fringe player last season, breaking through into the first team to feature 24 times in the Championship.
However, this summer, he became a Tottenham player, agreeing a deal to move to the north London outfit for an undisclosed fee.
As part of the transfer, the 18-year-old returned to Elland Road on loan for the season in order to further his development.
Yet, if the youngster is to benefit from a final year with the Whites, Marcelo Bielsa needs to help him eradicate one part of his game.
On the chalkboard
Clarke showed promising signs last season, scoring twice as well as claiming the same number of assists.
Despite that, he only started four league games, being reduced to 20 appearances off the bench as he struggled to ever really become a starter.
And this term could be even harder for the teenager, especially after Helder Costa arrived from Wolves.
The Portuguese is a dynamic forward and has a history of performing well in the Championship, notching double figures for goal contributions in his two seasons in the second tier.
With that in mind, Clarke could find himself limited to game time as a substitute again.
That’s unless he makes one key change to his game, an attribute that could help him thrive during Bielsa’s second season with the club.
Last campaign, the wide man was unsuccessful with 1.1 touches per game, a statistic that’s rather alarming given the fact he rarely started.
The winger was particularly clumsy in possession of the ball and even lost it four times in just 26 minutes against Brentford, rounding off a particularly poor display in April.
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Across the 2018/19 season, it became a regular part of his game, losing the ball another four times in 79 minutes against Derby whilst being unsuccessful with his touches on two occasions in a further five matches.
The fact is that next season, Clarke may find himself struggling even more unless he improves his attacking discipline.
Developing him now he’s moved to Spurs is unlikely to be at the height of Leeds’ priorities anymore, but if he is to become more of an asset in his final year, Bielsa needs to find a way for the young prodigy to improve his touch.