Paul Robinson claims Spurs youngster ‘is too good’ for the Under-23s

Paul Robinson has urged Jack Clarke to go out on loan and get some games under his belt in the second half of the season rather than being a fringe player at Spurs.

Tottenham decided not to loan out the winger during the previous transfer window after the disappointing spells he experienced at Leeds and QPR last season.

It was reported at the time that Jose Mourinho wanted Clarke to stay as he felt training with the first-team squad at Hotspur Way would be beneficial to his development.

The 20-year-old has made two appearances off the bench in the Europa League this season but most of his minutes have come for the club’s Under-23s (transfermarkt.com).

It was reported last week that Mourinho is now prepared to give the green light for the youngster to go out on loan for the second half of the season to experience regular first-team football.

Robinson believes Clarke needs to challenge himself outside of Tottenham and follow in the footsteps of Oliver Skipp and Troy Parrott.

The former Spurs goalkeeper told Football Insider: “He’s made a couple of European squads but he is very rarely involved with the first team.

“Jack Clarke is in a really precarious position. He is at the risk of being on the fringes of the Spurs squad and not playing any football. If he doesn’t want to go out on loan again you wonder what his mentality is.

“The Under-23s is not the place for Jack Clarke. Training everyday with the first team is fantastic for him and great for his education but he is too good to be playing football for the Under-23s.

“Look at Troy Parrott, at Clarke’s age you do not want to just come on for 10 minutes in a European game that has no relevance every now and again. He needs to play football if he wants Spurs to be his club long-term. He needs to go out on loan.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Tottenham should ensure that Clarke goes to a club where he is guaranteed games instead of warming the bench like he did at Leeds and QPR. Another disappointing loan spell could shatter the youngster’s confidence.

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