Michael O'Neill has backed Jack Clarke to make a big impact at Stoke City after his full debut for the Potters.
The former Leeds United star made his first start in senior football for almost two years as the Potters went down to a 2-1 defeat to Watford on Friday night.
Clarke moved on loan to Stoke from Tottenham Hotspur this month in search of more first-team football, having been limited to two appearances in the Europa League and one FA Cup game at his parent club this season.
After two games off the bench for Stoke, Clarke was handed his full debut against the Hornets, bringing to an end a frustrating lack of starts for the 20-year-old.
Clarke spent the start of last season on loan at boyhood club Leeds but made just three appearances before returning to Spurs in January and moving on loan to QPR.
He managed just seven appearances for the Hoops in a stop-start campaign for the winger. His last start in the league came in Marcelo Bielsa's first season in charge at Elland Road, when he played the first 45 minutes of the Whites' 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on February 9, 2019.
Yet he seems set for some much-needed regular football at Stoke, with O'Neill praising his performance against Watford.
He told Stoke-on-Trent Live: "I thought he was very good. You can see straight away his ability on the ball. He can handle the ball very well. I thought he linked very well with Nathan Collins on that side and Joe Allen.
"That's two very young players who handled it very well against two very good players on that side. It was a good start from Jack.
"In the three games since he's come in he's shown great quality and I think he can add something to us."
