Newcastle: 'Very strong possibility' 129-game ace will leave St James' Park

Newcastle United outcast Ciaran Clark is likely to have already made his final Magpies appearance as there is a ‘very strong possibility’ he will leave St James’ Park in the summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Tynesiders became the world’s richest football club after the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund led a £305million takeover last October, but that injection of cash has not played into Clark’s hands.

Clark has not featured in a competitive fixture since coming on as a substitute in Newcastle’s win at Leeds United in January.

The central defender is not in contention until the end of the season after being left out of the Magpies’ 25-man squad by head coach Eddie Howe.

That setback came a matter of days after Clark was sent off for punching an opponent during a January friendly in Saudi Arabia.

Clark was offered a way out of St James’ Park during the final hours of the winter window, but he is understood to have snubbed a loan move to Championship side Middlesbrough.

Uncertainty over Clark’s long-term future remains as he will enter the final 12 months of his £42,000-per-week contract at the end of the campaign.

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O’Rourke believes Clark’s days at Newcastle are numbered as he will leave St James’ Park when the transfer window reopens.

The journalist understands the centre-half does not feature in Howe’s long-term plans as he continues to put his stamp on the side he inherited following his appointment last November.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “I’d say there is a very strong possibility that Ciaran Clark will be on the move. Obviously, he was left out of the revised 25-man squad after the January transfer window.

“He