It’s fair to say Ciaran Clark has played his last game for Newcastle United, having left on a season-long loan just as he’d entered the final 12 months of his contract on Tyneside.
Sadly for the centre-back, his first competitive outing for Sheffield United did not go to plan last night as the Blades took on recently relegated Watford at Vicarage Road.
Playing on the right side of a back three, Clark was regularly left for dead by Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr – two players who’ve been offered to Eddie Howe in recent weeks, according to reports.
He was booked 14 minutes in for a cynical foul on the Nigerian – who ran the show out on the left-hand side – and was very nearly given a second yellow just a few moments later, looking off the pace and very much like a player who’d managed just 21 minutes of competitive football since the turn of the year.
The 32-year-old was also caught out on the counter and unable to catch up with Joao Pedro for Watford’s winning goal, with Ismaila Sarr setting up the Brazilian as Clark scrambled to get back.
Here are some comments we found on Twitter from Sheffield United and Newcastle fans who tuned in to see the Irishman’s first start for his new club:
Honestly, pretty much everything good Dennis and Sarr did was a result of a Ciaran Clark mistake. I’m not writing him off, but that was one of the worst debuts I’ve ever seen in a Utd shirt.
Ciaran Clark looking every bit the player who hasn’t had a proper game in 7 months…
Can tell Ciaran Clark is really struggling with the pace of Dennis. Needs to get up to the speed of the game quick it’s like playing with 10 at the moment.
Ciaran Clark has had the worst 15 mins without conceding I’ve ever seen in my life. Looks miles off it.
Have we still got the receipt for Clark? Seems woefully slow and so awkward in possession.
Dennis has Clark on toast here. He’s one more foul away from a red. Such a mismatch.
