TBR View: Ciaran Clark should seek loan move away from Newcastle

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Newcastle United have made a decent start to the 2020/21 campaign but for Ciaran Clark, the prospects of playing regular first-team football look extremely bleak.

The 31-year-old missed a lot of last season through injury and as a result, he’s found it difficult to force his way into Steve Bruce’s thinking during the current campaign.

Clark played in a 1-0 win over Blackburn and a 7-0 victory over Morecambe, both in the Carabao Cup, but has failed to make the bench in three of Newcastle’s four Premier League games.

Given his injury problems and his age, it makes logical sense for Clark to try and seal a move away from Newcastle before the domestic transfer window closes on Friday.

Clark signed for the Magpies from Aston Vill for £5 million in 2016. He has made 91 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals.

Quite simply, Clark just needs to play some football and if he were to head out on loan there would likely be a queue of Championship clubs prepared to welcome him into their squad.

The centre-back is paid £35,000-a-week at St. James’ Park and in order to get him out on loan the club might need to subsidise some of his salary.

Fresh start

With Clark out of contract at the end of the current campaign, his days at Newcastle do look to be numbered and right now an extension seems unlikely.

If the international could go out, play some football and get himself back into some sort of form, he might hook himself up with another contract somewhere else next season.

Clark is an uncompromising defender who is strong in the air and comfortable on the ball.

He’s no use to anyone sat in the stands on a matchday and the experienced performer should be doing whatever he can to get himself a loan move before Friday.