Tottenham sent timely reminder ahead of pivotal transfer calls after 'coming-of-age performance'

Jack Clarke will step out at Wembley later this month after helping Sunderland set up a League One play-off final clash against Wycombe Wanderers. Leading Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 from the first leg of their semi-final tie, the Tottenham man played a pivotal role in helping the Black Cats progress following a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

Electing to remain at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer and fight for his place in Nuno Espirito Santo's plans despite having offers from elsewhere, the 21-year-old was given 45 minutes off the bench in the team's Europa Conference League tie away at Pacos de Ferreira but failed to play after that. Only making the matchday squad once in Europe after his appearance in Portugal, it was clear to see that Clarke needed to depart in January for the third year in succession in order to play regularly.

With his loan move to QPR in 2020 just not working out and his time at Stoke City 12 months later cut short through injury, the York-born player dropped down to League One this time in hope of featuring regularly and getting his career back on track. His temporary move to Sunderland has proved to be a huge success so far, featuring more regularly towards the end of the season and chipping in with some important contributions to help his team seal a play-off berth.

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His most important contribution came on Monday evening, however, as he teed up Patrick Roberts for a stoppage-time goal to cancel out Lee Gregory's strike and send Sunderland to Wembley. It was Clarke at his best as he picked up the ball on the left flank and breezed past his marker to tee up his teammate for a simple finish.

Clarke was a