Fit-again Hatters midfielder declares he is ready to start against Valiants

Hatters midfielder Jordan Clark has declared he is fit enough to start this afternoon’s League One clash against Port Vale if selected by boss Jack Wilshere.

The 32-year-old made his comeback from six weeks out with a troublesome calf injury during Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient, as his cameo with 20 minutes remaining proved to be the main reason why the visitors were able to escape with a point, instantly breaking into the box to hit the outside of the post, providing some of the rare moments of quality on display and galvanising the Hatters to score a stoppage time leveller through Gideon Kodua.

Having completed a rigorous warm-down after the contest finished all square, then speaking to the press, when asked if he felt he would be ready to go from the first whistle today, he said: “Yes, I think so. I’d like to say I’m fit now. I don’t know how long I played, half an hour and I did my running, so I feel fit. I’ve been on the grass for two, three weeks now. I’ve been doing some really tough sessions, so I just need the full training and the games.”

Asked just what the issue was for the midfielder, and how he was feeling having made his comeback, Clark continued: “It’s just a calf injury. I’d been struggling since pre-season, but hopefully a little fix of my back as well and touch wood there’ll be no more of those troubles. I’ve had them previous years, but it’s just one of those things. I’ve got to maintain it, look after myself a bit better and just try to stay on that pitch from now until the end of the season.”

Having started and been easily the best player during Wilshere’s first game in charge against Mansfield in October, the midfielder remained in the side for the trip to Northampton Town, but had to go off early in the second half holding his calf. It led to Clark, who was with the Hatters when Wilshere came for pre-season training as a player under Nathan Jones, missing the next nine matches, but he still made sure he was at the Brache learning just want the new manager expected from his charges, saying: “I did it half an hour into the Northampton game, I tried to carry on and probably made it a little bit worse and then I’ve missed everything the lads have been working on with the new gaffer and the new staff.

"But I’ve been watching and taking everything in, doing my rehab and then trying to get out on the training ground as much as I can, learning what he wants from me. I’m always speaking to him and the staff too. He’s been really good, so I’m just looking forward to getting my teeth into it now, and playing some more football. I’ve known him a few years now too. When he first came in he was easy to chat to and for someone so young he’s got a real experience.

"He’s got an old head on his shoulders, he’s very tactical and got a great staff with him as well which they’ve just got the whole environment buzzing. We’ve just got to be more consistent, that’s what you need to do, especially in the lower leagues which I’ve experienced a few years in my career now. The more consistent you are the better results you get so I’m just looking forward to the weekend now and being back at the Kenny.”

Team-mate Liam Walsh, who grabbed the assist on Tuesday night when his corner was headed home by Kodua, was certainly pleased to see the long-serving Hatter back in the fray once more, as he said: “Since I’ve been here I’ve loved playing with Clicks. He’s always shown for the ball, he always makes stuff happen and if you want to go places and go up the table you need players like Clicks. Him just coming on gave us a little boost of confidence and he got on the ball and made something happen straight away. As a midfielder, for me I’m always on the ball looking for him, trying to get him involved as I know he’s going to do something with it, so it’s good to have him back.”

The main man who is tasked with deciding whether Clark does get his first start this afternoon is Wilshere, as discussing just how important it is not to rush the former Barnsley and Accrington winger too much and suffer a recurrence of the problem, added: “We have to get that bit right and I always think it’s important when players come back from injury and speaking from my own experience, that you get the right exposure at the right moments.

"You’ve also got to be a little bit patient too as of course we all want Jordan to play and you can see how much he can help the team, but we also know what we’ve got coming and how busy Christmas will be and how after Christmas, what that looks like. We want him to be available for that so it’s important we get that first little bit right and then push from there.”