1 goal in 2 years: Orta struck gold on £10m flop after "bizarre" Leeds United exit - opinion

Former Leeds United prodigy Jack Clarke was backed to be one of English football’s up and coming prospects having made 25 appearances in the 2018/19 season as an 18-year-old.

However, three years on and the midfielder is struggling for game time whilst on loan at League One outfit Sunderland.

After his stellar 2018/19 campaign, Tottenham swooped in for the Englishman, paying around £10m to secure his services on a permanent basis, in what was dubbed a “bizarre” move by the player himself. However, he was loaned back to Leeds for the following campaign after Marcelo Bielsa’s side missed out on promotion.

However, that was the starting point for the youngster’s downfall.

Bielsa handed the then 19-year-old just one cameo appearance before Spurs recalled Clarke from Elland Road and sent him out to QPR, where he made six appearances from January until the end of the campaign.

Another half-season loan at Stoke City in the second half of last season didn’t bear fruit and the 21-year-old now finds himself in League One, having joined Sunderland on loan in January.

Since joining the Black Cats, the 21-year-old’s fortunes have slightly improved, having appeared in all 11 of the league matches played since his arrival, in which the midfielder has scored his first senior goal since New Year’s Day 2019 as well as registering an assist for Alex Neil’s side.

However, from a results point of view, it’s been a mixed run for the Wearside club, who have won just three of those 11 matches, losing four.

This has seen Sunderland drop to sixth place in League One, with seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday just a point behind and boasting a game in hand.

Leeds supporters would’ve certainly been gutted to see their brightest star leave the club in