Aston Villa loanee has got 'masses' of potential and just needs a bit of 'love', says Chesterfield boss James Rowe

The 21-year-old has had to be patient since joining on loan from Aston Villa in January, waiting two months to make his first start in the win against Eastleigh.

Rowe said the midfielder, who is out of contract in the summer, needed some high intensity training sessions to get him up to speed.

“He has got masses of potential, I think that is shown in the contract he was handed at Aston Villa at such a young age,” Rowe told the DT.

“He has been patient and his attitude has been fantastic.

“I think he has got a real opportunity here and who knows what is going to happen at Aston Villa? They may extend his contract, we don’t know, but I want to make sure his experience here gives him that confidence to really push on with his career.”

When asked if he may look to sign Clarke if he does become a free agent, Rowe added: “I think we just cross that bridge when we come to it and see how he does in a block of games. I am just concentrating on now with him. He is in a good place mentally and physically. I think he is ready now.”

Rowe, who used to work for the Premier League, understands the difficulties that young players like Clarke face in trying to break into the first-team at top-flight clubs.

“It can be a bit of luck by being there at the right time when there are injuries so you get your chance and you take it,” Rowe explained.

“The other side to that is injuries yourself, if you have got an injury as a young lad at 20 and you are on the fringe of the first-team it might be the wrong timing and then you get sucked into probably being in the under-23s for too long and all of a sudden you miss a few years of your development.

“Sometimes your development can be stunted. I think that is what has happened with Jack.

“He just needs that platform, a bit of love, to show his ability and he needs a consistent run of games and I think his talent will take over then.”