Ciaran Clark made a timely return to action last night with a first Newcastle United appearance in seven months.
The Republic of Ireland defender is on the comeback trail ahead of the Euro 2020 playoff semi-final in Slovakia on October 8.
Clark hadn’t played since February because of a serious ankle injury but got 90 minutes in the Magpies 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Blackburn last night.
And Newcastle boss Steve Bruce hailed Clark’s performance as the centre-back switches his immediate focus to a Premier League return.
“Ciaran Clark was the big one for me,” said Bruce. “I thought he was immaculate considering he hadn’t played since around Christmas time.”
Clark got back into the Ireland team for the New Zealand friendly last November but is behind Shane Duffy and John Egan.
Richard Keogh’s absence pushed him back up the pecking order but West Brom’s Dara O’Shea and Blackburn’s Darragh Lenihan are also in the mix under Stephen Kenny.
Ireland face Slovakia in Bratislava on October 8, host Wales in the Nations League on October 11 and then go to Finland in the same competition on October 14.
