Newcastle United defender Ciaran Clark is set to be fit for pre-season despite being taken to hospital after an incident in Spain, according to the Chronicle.
The newspaper state that the defender, who earns £35,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), is expected to be available to take part in the Magpies’ first session back on session on July 2.
It was reported by local Spanish news outlet Ultimahora that Clark was believed to have been punched while out at a bar in Magaluf and was taken to Son Espases hospital for treatment after losing consciousness.
OPINION
It’s good to hear that Clark is fine after his apparent unfortunate experience while enjoying his off-season as he has a lot to prove to manager Rafa Benitez in pre-season. As the Chronicle’s report states the 28-year-old is seen as the club’s fourth-choice centre-back and that is no doubt a position he would rather not find himself in. Clark knows that in order to feature more in the 2018/19 campaign that he needs to impress Benitez this summer in order to start getting a look in. The centre-back made 20 Premier League appearances in his latest campaign but did manage to score two goals in order to help his side steer clear of the relegation zone. In more positive news for the Magpies defender the Chronicle’s report claims that even though he is low in the pecking order, Benitez isn’t actively trying to sell him in the summer. This implies that Magpies manager will include him in his plans for next season.
