JACK CLARKE has come a great distance since collapsing and being rushed to hospital following a seizure when he was 18.
The Sunderland winger had made his fourth Championship begin for Leeds at Middlesbrough in February 2019 however, after being substituted at half-time, misplaced consciousness on the sidelines.
Jack Clarke is on fireplace as Sunderland goal a promotion pushCredit score: PA
Clarke and Co succumbed 1-0 to leaders Leicester on TuesdayCredit score: Getty
Paramedics and membership medical workers tended to him earlier than he was taken to hospital the place he later got here spherical.
It fortunately proved to be a freak incident and quick ahead 4 years Clarke, now 22, is without doubt one of the hottest skills outdoors the Premier League, already netting eight targets this season.
His type received him the Sky Wager Championship participant of the month for September.
Reflecting on that scary day on the Riverside, Clarke stated: “The whole lot was regular main into the sport.
“I didn’t assume something like that was going to occur, neither did any of the workers or medical workforce, as a result of they wouldn’t have put me in danger.
“I performed the primary half then got here off at half-time as a result of we have been shedding.
“As I used to be coming again out for the second half, the incident occurred.
“I don’t keep in mind an excessive amount of after that till a few hours later that night once I awakened in hospital.
“I used to be advised I had suffered a seizure resulting from a mixture of issues.
“I had a virus in my blood, and mixed with the adrenalin from the sport and the caffeine dietary supplements I’d taken, it proved a recipe for catastrophe.
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“You by no means know what’s happening inside as a result of I felt nice and there was nothing uncommon occurring on game-day.
“I’ve since been completely checked and it’s gone down as a one-off.
“Contact wooden, one thing like that hasn’t occurred once more to me or anyone else.”
Clarke was again in motion only a month later.
He went on to make an additional eight sub appearances in a season that noticed Leeds lose within the play-off semi-finals to Derby earlier than making an £8.5million swap to Tottenham.
The winger by no means obtained a severe look-in throughout his three years at Spurs — making solely 4 sub outings in cup competitions.
He was loaned out initially to Leeds then QPR, Stoke and Sunderland earlier than making his Black Cats transfer everlasting in July 2022.
But regardless of being lucky to work beneath legendary bosses Marcelo Bielsa and Jose Mourinho, Clarke admits taking part in for present Sunderland chief Tony Mowbray has been probably the most pleasant time of his profession.
And the Black Cats are reaping the rewards of that relationship with the younger ace on fireplace as they chase a play-off spot for a second successive 12 months.
Though the Wearsiders suffered their third straight Championship defeat on Tuesday, taking place 1-0 at Leicester, they produced a superb efficiency towards the runaway leaders that deserved a degree.
Mowbray took over final August from Alex Neil, who walked out six video games into the season to affix Stoke.
However Clarke says his arrival proved a launch.
He stated: “Lots of the opposite boys will echo me however I’ve beloved working with him.
“Ever for the reason that gaffer got here in, he’s been a breath of recent air for us attackers particularly and the younger lads.
“We’ve been given freedom to play and specific ourselves and, when issues don’t work, he desires us to attempt it once more.
“So long as we’re working laborious and attempting to do the proper factor, he’s a high man to work beneath.
“I can’t thank him sufficient for what he’s achieved for me throughout the previous 12 months.
“You may by no means decide who you’re going to work for however, fortunately, I’ve had some sensible managers at first of my profession which have helped me when it comes to what I’ve realized and the participant I’ve up to now turn out to be.
“It’s laborious to match totally different managers however I’ve completely loved working beneath all of them for various causes. However taking part in beneath Tony is probably the most enjoyment I’ve had in my profession and that’s resulting from him and the setting he’s created right here.
“Once I was working beneath Bielsa and Mourinho, I used to be youthful and naive. I simply wished to be taught.
“Enjoying was clearly what I wished however the scenario I used to be in and the age I used to be at, I couldn’t expect to play each week or, once I wasn’t taking part in, knocking on the door and asking, ‘why am I not taking part in?’
“It was extra about being there, studying, being the most effective model of myself and, if I obtained the prospect to contribute, simply attempting to contribute what I may.”
It was a shock Sunderland reached the play-offs final season following promotion from League One.
However their probabilities of emulating that once more are usually not helped by the summer time departures of star attackers Ross Stewart to Southampton and Amad Diallo, who returned to Manchester United after a profitable mortgage stint.
Added to that, defenders Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch left for Norwich — who Sunderland host right this moment — and Stoke respectively.
However midfielder Jobe Bellingham has proved to be an excellent purchase from Birmingham whereas the emergence of children equivalent to Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche has been essential.
Clarke stated: “It’s laborious to switch the gamers we misplaced final 12 months like Amad, who scored 14 targets, and Ross Stewart who obtained 11 in simply 12 video games.
“Even once we introduced Joe Gelhardt in on mortgage from Leeds behind final season, he performed an enormous position, so it’s laborious to switch these kinds of gamers, however the membership’s achieved nicely in its recruitment.
“The likes of Jobe, Abdoullah and Adil may not be the completed article but and we’re not anticipating them to be.
“However all of them provide us one thing totally different and there’s a cause why gamers get signed right here for various issues. I believe the membership’s obtained that steadiness proper.
“We’d like to duplicate what we did final season, if not go all the way in which.
“That’s our ambition — we’re not saying it’s going to occur however we all know how good we’re as a workforce, how good we may be on our day and really feel we are able to beat anyone.
“So we’re not going to restrict ourselves to what we are able to do that season.”