When Walsall manager Darrell Clarke persuaded namesake James Clarke to link up again and eventually become the clubs new captainhe had been anticipating the dependable guardian to bring leadership at the back. What he could not have anticipated are the two goals which have helped win Clarke that the League Two player of the month award.
Much Tony Yeboah, that celebrated scorer of goals for Leeds, abandoned a month between his Premier League strikes against Liverpool and Wimbledon. Clarke did it in back-to-back weekends. A stunning push to open the scoring at the victory off to Crawley and an outrageous overhead kick to win the game against Scunthorpe.
What makes the success even more extraordinary is that just over a year past the 29-year-old centre-back still waited for his first goal. He registered a couple for his team Bristol Rovers last season but with three for his side that is the ideal goalscoring season of his career. He is currently Walsalls best scorer.
Does he say it to the lads? Only every day, Clarke informs Sky Sports.
Before last season I do not think Id registered a shot on target.
Theyre different aims to what youd kind of associate with a centre-back, I figure. To score two goals for example, I would not have dreamed of scoring them. I never score as well as the parties probably revealed that. I have had a good deal of questions thrown at me. I was excited about it than anyone else.
Not everything has gone smoothly because Clarke elected to turn down the offer of a fresh contract with Bristol Rovers head north to the West Midlands and to drop down a division. Walsall, having been relegated last season, found themselves at the four but three wins in a row have calmed nerves.
We now had a ropey start but what is settling today and that showed in September if we gelled and place some really good results together.
There has been a massive squad change. 16 or fifteen in and 15 or 16 has been easier than youd think because its a new start for everyone. The boys who have remained from last year are almost in the minority. It is about having a season. Nobody is getting ahead of themselves. Were barely a quarter of the way throughout .
Bristol stays home however he isessentially residing here today having made the move together with Stuart Sinclair, another long-time favorite of this manager. Promotions have been won by the pair at Salisbury and Bristol Rovers beneath Clarke. Thats why, while his boss claims that he didnt hope to convince the defender to join him once more, the guy himself sees it otherwise.
Im surprised that he said that because he understands just how much I enjoy working with him says Clarke. Its been five or six seasons we have been together now and its a large selling point with the gaffer being here. It is most likely the primary reason.
I have witnessed first-hand what he could do. He is a very modern supervisor, very ambitious and he always builds a great changing room that is what you wish to be part of.
Clarke is over a part of it. Defender. Captain. Best scorer. League 2 player-of-the-month winner. And perhaps there is another goal or two to come? It would be great to score a few more, he adds.
But he knows he will be unlikely to the previous two.
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