Noel Whelan is happy that Tottenham kept Jack Clarke in their squad instead of sending him out on loan as he is now starting to establish himself at the club.
He was signed by Spurs in the summer of 2019 from Leeds and the Lilywhites allowed him to remain with the Whites on loan for the rest of last season.
He didn’t see much action during his time on loan at the club and he was recalled in January.
Spurs sent him out on loan again to QPR for the second half of last season, but he once again saw little action.
The club decided against sending him out on loan this season and he remained with them, training with the likes of Gareth Bale and Harry Kane.
He has become a key part of the first team and even though he hasn’t been seeing so much football, he has shown progress.
His form in training saw him earn 20 minutes of football for the club against Ludogorets on Thursday.
Whelan thinks that staying behind has had a positive effect on him.
Whelan told Football Insider: “We did worry. When he’s gone out on loan, when he came back to Leeds, he wasn’t playing, he didn’t look the same player.
“Then he went to QPR, probably even worse loan than it was at Leeds, then we didn’t know where he was going to be – was he gonna go back out on loan? No. I think they’ve given him an opportunity, they’re trying to progress him as a football player.
“They’ve given him the opportunity in the first team on Thursday and for once he’s taken it. I think he’s taken it, I think he’s taken it on board.
“I think it does make a difference when you’ve signed for a club and you do spend a bit of time there, rather than be loaned down straight away, you do feel more part of the furniture and part of the team and the squad.
“It will bring the best out of him because he’s playing against better players week in, week out and learning the style of play that Jose Mourinho wants.
“Another great turnaround, Ndombele, you look at Jack Clarke – two players that looked certain for the exit door. Now, very much in the plans.”
