Clarke starts slow recovery
Blackpool striker Billy Clarke has started a rehabilitation program after a cruciate ligament knee injury.
Clarke picked up the injury during Blackpool's first pre-season game against Tiverton in July. Clarke had surgery on his knee three weeks ago and will now start a process of muscle strength and conditioning exercises.
He said: "The operation went well according to the surgeon and I'm just on slow rehab at the moment. I just need to get my leg working and bending and make sure that I don't lose much muscle in my thigh in that area. That's probably the plan for the next eight-to-six weeks."
This will be a massive boost to everyone at Blackpool who may have feared that Clarke would not play any part in the club's debut Premier League season. Clarke has not been named in Blackpool's 25-man Premier League squad, which will give him until at least January to get fit.
This striker has many qualities that have made him a very popular figure in the North West. There is no reason at all for the club to rush him back, which could potentially make things worse.
Clarke's qualities
Billy Clarke demonstrated that he has lethal pace at points in the Championship last season. Any striker that has pace will put a defender onto the back foot. Even if he has lost a little pace because of the injury, he will still be quick enough to be a thorn in the side of most defences.
Clarke will have an entrenched determination to play some part this season and this will work in the club's favour. It means that when he does play he will raise his performance levels to try and score a goal and this can only help the team.
Versatility is important for a lot of strikers and this is something else that Clarke possesses. He can play in attack by himself but he is better suited to playing in the pockets of space behind another front man.
No rush at all
There is no rush at all for Blackpool to try and get Clarke fit. The fact he wasn't named in the club's 25 man squad means that he will not be able to take part in a Premier League game until the start of the second half of the season.
There will be a temptation to try and get the player fit quickly because Blackpool could use him in the reserve team, the FA Cup or the League Cup. However, this could make the injury potentially worse, which would keep him out for longer.
He added: "You always lose muscle anyway with a lack of activity and I haven't really done anything since I did my cruciate so it will be hard graft to get it back. I need to get a full range of movement back in my knee and then hopefully I can start cycling. I'll probably be able to start light jogging after that."
Betting advice
There is no point backing Clarke to be top scorer at the club this season or in the Premier League. However, he will have a determination to do well when he does play later in the year so back him to get on the score sheet when he does eventually get involved in a game.
He will add extra fire power up front and this will give Blackpool a bigger chance of staying up this season. It's still too early to say if Blackpool will have a strong chance of Premier League survival but getting a popular player back will more than help.
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