Eddie Howe has reiterated he can only take players as he finds them after handing Federico Fernandez a return in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City.
Just 29 days after first-team coach Graeme Jones said Fernandez was no longer an option to sit on the bench as a substitute, the former Argentina international came on just 10 minutes into the game from the sidelines.
Fernandez had not featured at all since the defeat at Wolves before the takeover went through but Howe insisted the centre-back had a future on Tyneside.
Howe said: "I can't speak for anybody else.
"All I can speak on is the player that I have worked with so far - he has been the ultimate professional.
"I think I said this on Monday too, he's the ultimate professional.
"He's a real leader of the group, he's a really respected figure and I think he proved he is an outstanding player.
"He performed magnificently today.
"I haven't seen too much of Fede yet.
"The week I had with Covid meant I had limited training time with the group.
"I was delighted to give him his opportunity but devastated for Ryan Fraser to take him off but I thought Fede played really, really well."
Howe will now be without Clark for the next game at home to Burnley with Fernandez a strong contender to start.
Speaking of Clark's situation, Howe said: "The red card wasn't something Ciaran wanted or I wanted.
"That's football because you never know what is going to happen.
"You can never plan a script and we had to rip our plan up, the game plan went out the window."
