Although Tony Mowbray thinks he has a player as talented as former Leeds and Tottenham winger Jack Clarke, the Championship’s top scorer and star player is fellow wideman Patrick Roberts.
Although Roberts’ overall play has pleased Sunderland’s head coach, the 26-year-old has been tasked with trying to emulate Clarke by increasing the number of goals and assists he scores. Roberts is a very important attacking player for Sunderland, but he hasn’t scored a goal yet this season despite providing the assist for Trai Hume’s goal against Norwich on Saturday.
That is something Mowbray wants the former Manchester City youngster to work on.
“I love Patrick Roberts and I almost want him and Jack to compete,” said Mowbray.
Patrick, I’m saying, why aren’t you scoring and setting up as many goals?
“Obviously, Jack takes penalties, but I also want to see Patrick put the ball in the back of the net. Jack is more talented than Patrick, but I can’t just sit here and say that. We should hope that he continues to score goals from both sides of the pitch by getting into the box and being more self-centered in his finishing. We can then move closer to the 70 goals we’ll need for a successful season once our centre forwards start to shine.”
Although Clarke’s 11 goals from the previous season were a respectable return for a winger, he is expected to surpass that total this season. He scored his ninth goal of the season against the Canaries the other night, capping an extremely successful start to the league.
Furthermore, Mowbray sees no reason why Clarke can’t carry on in his current capacity. If we can keep playing like we are at the moment… really positive and on the front foot, having a lot of attacking moments in games, I think Jack will keep scoring,” he stated.
You could also say that he has a tremendous aerobic capacity, which allows him to run continuously, and that he is extremely devastating when we have to defend. Before I moved here, he was playing wing back because one of his best qualities as a football player is his ability to run quickly and continuously throughout the day.
“I don’t see him faltering; I believe he will continue to score goals and cause teams grief.” He is using a lot more variation in his play these days, cutting the ball back with his left foot and going down the outside as well as the inside. Such spectacular shows will undoubtedly draw attention from above. In the summer, Clarke was a wanted man, but Sunderland was able to
In January, more Premier League offers are probably going to be made, and Mowbray hopes Sunderland will do everything within their power to hold onto the winger.
He continued: “He has to stay positive, I hope he’s enjoying his football and hopefully the club does everything they can to keep him here and have a successful season.
