Jack Clarke has had an impressive start to the season, claiming the player of the month award for September in the process. He has recently spoke about life at Sunderland, playing in a young side under Mowbray, taking penalties, the pain of last season and how he is taking his game to the next level.
ONE OF THE OLDIES
"I think at any other club I'd still be one of the youngsters! I'm only 22, but in this dressing room I'm almost a veteran. I don't see it as a burden, and there are experienced players here. But I've had enough games at this level now to know what this league demands, and I take it upon myself to pass that on to some of the younger lads who haven't been here quite as much. Every little can help."
MOGGA
"I love playing for the gaffer. He's been brilliant with me and all the other boys. For a young attacking player he gives you the freedom to express yourself, and that's all I want to do. I think he identified what our strengths are as a squad. We worked a lot on what we are good at and what will help in certain games. Getting the ball in the right areas, doing the right things at the right time. I'm going out there every week and trying my best. Sometimes things come off, and sometimes they don't. To experiment, and enjoy playing football. He gives you that platform.”
WATCHING PL TALENTS
“I love watching Jack Grealish, Heung-min Son and some of the other big names in my position. I like to see their strengths and if you can identify what they do in your own game. Then, if you can't do it as well as them, ask yourself why. Then you go out and practise and work on it until you can. That is how I try to improve, and it can only make you a better player."
PENALTIES
"I never really had my eye on penalties, but we made a rule at the start of the season that whoever wins it can take it. I won the first one against Preston, and scored. Then I did the same against Blackburn. I've not missed one yet, so the gaffer says I can keep taking them. I always stay out after training to practise, and the day before a game I try and replicate what it would be like to take one. But there's a long queue of people doing the same hoping to take them off me!"
JOBE
"He's been so good since he arrived. He's got so much quality and so many strings to his bow. He just needs to finely tune and grow into the player he can be. We've seen glimpses of it, and on his day he's a joy to watch and a joy to play with."
LAST SEASON
"There were moments we can reflect upon and be proud of. But after we'd lost there was a lot of disappointment, and you've got to pick through that and see how well we've done. When you get that close you only think of what could have been, rather than what you've achieved. It took a while to get over that. But I don't like to think about too much because you can't change it. You can just try and put things right the next season, and try to get over the line.”
THIS SEASONS GOALS
"I've lost twice now in the play-off semi-finals, and you can only try and use that experience to your advantage, or it will eat away at you. It can be our stepping stone to be an even better team in this league this season. Hopefully we can get into the play-offs or higher and go one better this year, and finish on a real high."
