'Amazing' Jack Clarke got half-time scolding, admits Sunderland boss

Sunderland coach Tony Mowbray says Jack Clarke needed to be 'shouted at' despite great performance against Hull.

Author:
Michael Graham
Publish date:
Apr 8, 2023 10:11 AM EDT

Tony Mowbray praised the ‘amazing reaction’ from Jack Clarke after admitting he gave the winger a half-time telling-off against Hull City.

Clarke was the star man for Sunderland, playing a key part in all four Sunderland goals including bagging one himself.

That goal was Clarke’s tenth of the season in all competitions, although this one came after Tony Mowbray blasted him for the way he started the game.

"I had a big shout at him at half-time, to be honest,” Mowbray admitted. “I thought he was really poor for 20 minutes but his reaction was amazing.

"We can't sit here and question Jack Clarke's talent, he has double-figure goals now from the left wing and I think probably double-figure assists as well.

“He's a great player and yet he has to understand - and in my mind he is still a young boy - that we need 90 minutes, not a brilliant 60 minutes.

"Yet, notoriously, wide attackers are a bit flighty, generally. I want Jack to be the best player every game, score goals, create goals, and be too good for the Championship.

"He has to embrace that and want to do it, and not be happy if he is getting shouted at. I've said to him that I'll always love him. I'll shout at him, I'll get annoyed, but the next morning I'll make you a cup of tea and put my arm around you, it's fine - life's good.

"We're trying to win football matches and everybody needs to find top performances every game, but sometimes players find it hard to perform at a level and that's the challenge for them."

Read more Sunderland news