Jack Clarke’s injury is a blow to Sunderland, but it could also be a blessing in disguise. The Black Cats winger is set to miss the next six weeks out after picking up ankle ligament damage in the defeat to Birmingham City last month.
There’s no doubt about it, Clarke has been Sunderland’s best player this season with 19 goal contributions in the Championship this season - 15 of those goals.
So, how is losing your best player to a lengthy injury a blessing?
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Well, it’s no secret that Sunderland’s 15-goal winger wants to play Premier League football and given their current standing - eight points adrift of the play-off places with 12 games to go - it's unlikely the Wearside club will be playing top flight football next season.
Clarke has been linked with various Premier League sides over the last 12 months, as well as Italian giants Lazio, but Sunderland have held on to their red-hot winger thus far with the Black Cats demanding a fee north of £20 million.
That interest is only likely to resurface in the summer transfer window, and Sunderland must start preparing for life after Clarke.
The Black Cats are in a position to keep their talisman at the club, given the length of his contract, but will be wary of the player wanting to fulfil his own ambition and cash in while his stock is high.
His recent injury means Sunderland can get a head start in planning for life after Clarke and assess the other wide options they have.
January signing Romaine Mundle, Adil Aouchiche, Nazariy Rusyn and highly rated youngsters Tommy Watson and Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi could all compete for Clarke’s spot in the team, and try to cement themselves as starters ahead of next season.
It also gives the club a good idea of where they stand in terms of finding a replacement for Clarke.
Is there one already at the club or will Kristjaan Speakman have to dip back in to the market to replace the Black Cats top scorer?
During Clarke’s absence Sunderland will face trips to Norwich, Southampton, and Cardiff as well as home games against Leicester, QPR, Blackburn and Bristol City.
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That's plenty of time for experimentation for a club all but safe from relegation and realistically, a little far off the play-off places to mount a challenge, especially without their best player.
The former Leeds United winger’s 15 championship goals this season equates to 33% of Sunderland’s 46 league goals this season. With 19 combined goals and assists, the next highest in the team is Dan Neil with eight, another player who is attracting Premier League interest.
Sunderland must start to find a way to win games in Clarke’s absence because without his goals they would have the third worst attack in the league this season.
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