Jack Clarke has been in fine form this season for Sunderland and is currently the joint-top goalscorer in the Championship alongside Southampton star Adam Armstrong with seven goals.
In 50 appearances in all competitions last season for the Black Cats, Clarke scored 11 goals. The 22-year-old is already merely four goals off his tally for last term, highlighting how much the winger has improved over the past twelve months.
Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo stole the show last season as Tony Mowbray’s side reached the Championship playoffs in unprecedented fashion but Clarke has taken the Ivorian’s place as Sunderland’s talisman this time around.
After struggling to break into Tottenham Hotspur’s first-team and spending a couple of seasons on loan at the likes of Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers, we are now finally seeing why Spurs spent such a hefty fee on the attacker four years ago.
Best In The Championship?
Statistically, Clarke is the most potent forwards in England’s second tier right now. According to the BBC, the forward has taken 12 shots and scored seven which is a conversion rate of 58 percent. In contrast, Adam Armstrong, who has the same number of goals, boasts a conversion rate of 39 percent from 18 shots at goal.
However, the stat that really makes Clarke stand out from the rest of the pack is that he currently has a 92 percent shot accuracy in the league. Essentially, every time Clarke has aimed for the goal, it has hit the target 92 percent of the time.
His finishing has been elite this season too. Clarke has registered an expected goals (xg) total of 3.8, as per stats site FBref, and so is outperforming his xG by more than three goals, proving how efficient he has been when opportunities arise.
But it’s not just his ability to find the net that makes Clarke such a menace in the final third. The winger is in the top seven percent in the Championship for progressive carries with the ball.
Furthermore, he is in the top 17 percent for successful take-ons and the top 14 percent for touches in the opposition’s penalty area.
Writer’s View
Clarke is undoubtedly a goalscoring winger. Creating opportunities for teammates is perhaps the only real flaw in his offensive game at the moment, but in terms of tucking away chances, there is nobody better in the Championship right now.
If Sunderland are to finally reach the promised land of the Premier League once again, Clarke will be the man to take them there.
