Jack Clarke has returned on loan to Leeds after sealing his £9million Tottenham switch because he could not bear to leave on the disappointing end to last season.
Clarke admits he would have regretted quitting Leeds on the back of their heartbreaking play-off defeat to join Spurs.
The 18-year-old winger claims it was a “no brainer” coming back once Tottenham allowed him the option to spend next season at Elland Road.
He feels he developed hugely under coach Marcelo Bielsa last season in his first senior campaign and is relishing spending the next 10 months learning from the highly-respected Argentinian.
“It was a bit of a no-brainer really,” said Clarke. “The option was always there. I just thought it would be definitely better for my progression to spend another year here and I didn’t feel right leaving, finishing how we left last season.
“I think the manager brought me on a lot as a player and I think this season I’ll be even better getting another full season under him.
“Physically, I developed a lot playing senior professional football and with movement and other things, he brought me on massively.”
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is happy to let Clarke return to Leeds because he knows he will develop more there under his old Argentina boss Bielsa than he would in his youth ranks.
Clarke made 25 appearances, including his impressive cameo off the bench on his debut in October, scoring two goals and making two assists.
However his form never really recovered when he collapsed on the bench at Middlesbrough in February and had to be taken to hospital.
He wants to start fresh this season with Leeds and aims to nail down a regular place in Bielsa’s attack.
“I want to get a run of games starting under my belt and see where we go from there,” he said.
