Noel Whelan has blamed Jack Clarke's lack of versatility for his failure to impress at Leeds United this season.

The 18-year-old signed for Tottenham Hotspur during the summer and was immediately loaned back to Marcelo Bielsa's side in order to continue getting regular first team football.

But despite being a regular in the matchday squad, Clarke is yet to make an appearance in the Championship.

Bielsa boasts one of the strongest squads in the Championship, and with Leeds sitting level on points with second place at present it's no surprise that the head coach has refused to shuffle his pack too much.

Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan says that he believes Clarke's lack of opportunity is down to his inability to play in more than one position.

He said: "The problem with Jack Clarke is he can only play one position and one position only.

"He’s a natural winger and can’t really play anywhere else. It’s the only explanation for him not getting in the team.

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“You look at someone like Jamie Shackleton, he’s now leapfrogged Jack as he can play three or four different positions.

“Jack did really well last season and got his move to Tottenham. He’s a right winger but he’s not going to get in ahead of Pablo [Hernandez] or Helder Costa, who we spent £15million on.

“On the left, Jack Harrison is playing the best football of his Leeds career. There’s nowhere for Jack Clarke to play and Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t like to change his team.”

The verdict

While Jack Clarke's situation at Leeds United will no doubt be frustrating for Mauricio Pochettino, you can't argue with Marcelo Bielsa's decision not to include him.

The 18-year-old is way down the pecking order at Elland Road with Pablo Hernandez and Helder Costa both ahead of the young winger.

It's Bielsa's responsibility to pick the team that will get results for Leeds United, and if Jack Clarke doesn't fit into those plans then so be it.

Of course Clarke and Spurs will want him to be playing regular first team football, so you'd imagine that the winger could move on from Elland Road in January as he goes in search of regular action.