Wilshere felt birthday boy Clark showed just how much Luton missed him
Midfielder bags hat-trick against Ipswich Town U21s
Luton boss Jack Wilshere felt that Jordan Clark showed just how much Town had missed when scoring a birthday hat-trick in Tuesday night’s 6-0 thrashing of Ipswich Town U21s in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy clash.
The popular midfielder, who turned 33 on the same day, hadn’t started a game for a month due to breaking his jaw when involved in a sickening collision with a Notts County defender in their 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road. Back and fit enough to come off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bradford City, Clark was then in the starting line-up when the young Tractor Boys came to town in midweek.
He went on to score twice in the first half, completing his hat-trick after the interval, as he was replaced to a superb ovation with 66 minutes gone, Harry Fox coming on in his place, and asked about his influence afterwards, Wilshere said: “Listen, Jordan, we’ve missed him, there’s no denying that. We missed him in terms of on the pitch, because he has his quality, but also his energy around the place and that was not a nice injury for him to go through.
"Everyone felt that a little bit for him, he lost a little bit of his confidence and his smile around the place for a few days. We wanted to get him back in as quick as possible because he gives everyone confidence, he gives everyone belief and the players, they love him, they love him when he’s on the pitch. And how many times last season did he come up with a magic moment, or a little bit of inspiration? So we’ve missed him. I’m really happy to have him back, I’m happy he got his goals, and let's hope now his season can really be kick-started and we can keep him on the pitch.”
Clark's first goal was a finish of real class as latching on to Gideon Kodua’s flick once Joe Johnson won the ball back, he strode into the box on the left-hand side, opened up his body and curled sumptuously into the bottom corner with 18 minutes gone. Then five minutes later, he showed a superb technique when Kal Naismith whipped an excellent cross into the area, sliding in to cushion his volley past visiting keeper Alex Noonan.
Having scored twice in a game on three occasions in his career previously, Clark went on to what was his first senior hat-trick when released by Dan Gore’s perfectly-weighted through ball, he calmly slotted into the net once more to reach his treble. On his goals, Wilshere continued: “He’s got that quality, he’s something a little bit different. We try and play in a certain way and have a certain structure and someone like Jordan Clark, it helps him to a certain extent and then he has to be let free in the final third and find those spaces, run behind, and make things happen.
"He does that really well, as a team they adapt to that really well and it was a good goal. The last one was nice as well, Dan Gore played him in behind and he gives you that, he gives you different types of finishes, different types of chances. He wants to attack, that’s his first thought when he goes on the pitch, is how can he score goals and we need that.”
Clark had been celebrating two milestones as Saturday was also his 500th career appearance, having started out with Barnsley, plus spells at Chesterfield, Scunthorpe, Hyde, Shrewsbury and Accrington, with 225 of those outings coming for the Hatters since moving to the club in August 2020, adding 34 goals while at Kenilworth Road too.
Wilshere was quick to praise his longevity in the game, adding: “I’m happy for him. Before the game, we also celebrated his 500 games, we talked about mentality, attitude and letting them feel your intensity, and I think the players were excellent with that. But Jordan is someone who leads that, he leads by example. You don’t have a career in the game like he’s had, with 500 games, unless you completely dedicate yourself to everything. Training, games, how you look after yourself and outstanding.”