Sunderland defeated Norwich City on Saturday and, after reaching the playoffs last season, are aiming for the top six with the Championship’s youngest team, captained by 22-year-old winger Jack Clarke.

Can Sunderland keep Championship top scorer Jack Clarke in January?

Tony Mowbray is asking because winger Clarke is their standout Premier League quality talent… and the one who escaped from table-topping Tottenham Hotspur.

Clarke, 22, has nine goals this season, four of which have been penalty kicks, and his close quarters dribbling, incisive passes, and lung-busting thirst for running have put him on the radar of top level clubs.

How much is he worth? Burnley, on the other hand, failed with bids ranging from Spurs paid Leeds for him four years ago for an insulting £5m up to £10m.

And after 12 goals and 59 Sunderland appearances last season, he’s now worth up to three times that.

Mowbray wants to create a promotion campaign rather than sell. And former chairman Bob Murray recently stated that he is confident that owner Kyril Louis Dreyfus will not sell a crucial player to a Premier League drive.

Mowbray, on the other hand, is looking for even more progress, including having Clarke watch footage of Thierry Henry cutting inside and passing the ball into the net with “no backlift” for his next trick.

 

Clarke converted a penalty and set up Dan Neil’s goal as Sunderland defeated a demoralized Norwich, and Mowbray commented, “He is fantastic.”

a tremendous skill. We had proposals for him, and we’ll see what the club’s thinking patterns are in January.

 

“How many will he be able to get this season?” If we can continue to play positively, as we are currently, and get offensive opportunities, Jack is lethal.

Jack Clarke celebrates after scoring against Norwich.

“He has a tremendous aerobic capacity to continue running.” He can run all day long. A crucial characteristic for any footballer. He’ll keep scoring, damaging teams, and changing up his game. I hope he is enjoying his football and that the club will do everything possible to keep him for the rest of the season.

“On the heels of last year, in the summer, we discussed: You have to get this done a tremendous skill.

 

We had proposals for him, and we’ll see what the club’s thinking patterns are in January.

 

To make the playoffs, you must score 70 goals. Amad (Diallo) was no longer present. Who is going to score them? Ross (Stewart) was demoted. I didn’t think Clarke could match his performance on 12 last season. He’s already on number nine.

“He has a wonderful personality.” He has thoughts about football. He does pay attention. It’s incredible how near the ball stays to his foot. He’s a nice young man. He’s a traditional footballer, with messed-up hair, shorts, and boots, and he comes in in fancy tracksuits and shoes!”

“I like Patrick Roberts as well; can Patrick start putting some in the net  and duel for goals with him.

He must include objectives. Hopefully, goals will come from both sides of the field. Maybe we’ll get to 70 by then.”

City manager David Wagner is under pressure after only one point in five games and admits that questions about his future are legitimate. “This is the life of a football manager.”