Newcastle United defender ‘desperate’ to return to fitness to aid loan club’s promotion push

Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark is ‘desperate’ to return to full fitness as he looks to help loan club Sheffield United continue their push for promotion back into the Premier League.

The Magpies centre-back joined the Blades on a season-long loan deal during the summer and started their first two league games and a Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion.

However, a hamstring injury has forced Clark to watch on from the sidelines as his side hit form, winning seven of their 10 games to sit at the top of the Championship table.

Clark was believed to be nearing a return to fitness but suffered a minor setback and Blades assistant manager Stuart McCall has revealed the Republic of Ireland international’s mindset as his time out of the action continues.

He told Yorkshire Live: “On his recovery he was almost back and unfortunately he overstretched and it went again.

“It’s so, so frustrating for anyone to come to a new club and pick up an injury.

“He played on the right at Watford, which was the first time in his career he had done that and he’s 32.

“He was filling in at Watford on the wrong side and then he got back in the team on the left-hand side.

“He was desperate to get back and training really hard and had a little setback.

“Frustrating for him, frustrating for us, frustrating for everyone. He just wants to be back involved.”

Clark is expected to be out of action for another month but will hope he can help the Blades in their bid for promotion when he does return to fitness.