“Great signing” – Pundit backs Celtic move for Premier League winger with transfer imminent

BBC pundit, Alan Hutton has encouraged Celtic to make a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Jack Clarke as the player – who spent the first half of the season on loan at former club Leeds United – returns to his parent club.

Hutton, speaking to Football Insider, reflects on the youngster’s disappointing start to this term having, as yet, failed to hit the heights.

So what has Hutton said?

When asked whether or not he believed a move for Clarke would be beneficial for his development and replied:

“I think he’d be a great signing. When he was at Leeds I was really impressed, for one so young to put in performances like that was brilliant, and then to get the move”.

“After that it didn’t quite work out for whatever reason, he didn’t get a lot of game time. He’s so young, still to find his feet, he’s got time and I think a move like that, playing in front of a big crowd, European nights – it would be brilliant for him”.

“It would be great moving forward – I know there’s a lot of people interested, especially in the Championship. It just depends on where his head’s at and does he want to move up to Scotland”.

So is Hutton correct?

It may be too late if Celtic want to move for Clarke as Queens Park Rangers are said to have sealed a deal for the winger to spend the second half of the season at Loftus Road.

For all the promise that Clarke has, Parkhead is not the place for a youngster struggling for form, particularly in such a tight, highly pressurised, league campaign and with so many established players in the position that he plays.

With Neil Lennon able to call on James Forrest, Ryan Christie, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Mikey Johnston in the wide areas, it is unlikely that Clarke would see much more action than he is at present and would do little to further his development.

Clarke needs to be playing regular football at a level he is comfortable is to rediscover the form that earned him his move to Spurs in the first place, there is a talented player there but Celtic Park just isn’t the right fit – for now.