3/1 To Win
Matthew Clarke says he is pleased with the development he has made during the 2019/20 season whilst on loan Derby County.
The centre-back is coming towards the end of his season-long loan deal from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
Clarke has been a regular in manager Phillip Cocu’s backline during the season and has registered 35 appearances in all competitions to date.
While he joined Derby from a Premier League outfit, Clarke was still making a step up in moving to the Championship after signing for Brighton from League 1 side Portsmouth last summer.
Clarke’s performances have earned praise from Cocu throughout the season and the defender has been one of the Rams’ most consistent performers.
The 23-year-old believes he has improved as a player during his time at Pride Park Stadium.
“From a personal point of view, I’ve been really pleased with the development I’ve made throughout the season,” Clarke told RamsTV.
“I look at it as a bit of a journey. I came here definitely not the finished article and lots to learn and improve on and that still is the case but since the season started, I feel I have come on leaps and bounds.
“I don’t think there is one definite thing, I think you’re looking at a few areas where you have gained half a percent or one percent in your first touch, vision or body position.
“You gain a little bit in a lot of areas and then overall that makes a big difference.”
Clarke says he has enjoyed working under Cocu and being part of the style of play the Dutchman has implemented following his appointment last summer.
It is a way of playing which Clarke admits he has had to adapt to, but he has quickly impressed with his solid and assured displays at the heart of the Rams’ backline.
The defender has also been impressed with the work behind the scenes by the club’s coaching staff.
Speaking in a recent interview with Brighton’s official website, Clarke said: “I’ve found the gaffer here really good. It is my first time working with this style of play and it’s different to anything I have ever played before and have been used to and that takes time to adapt.
“I have really enjoyed working with the people here and the detail they go into, the way they look at football isn’t something I have seen before, but it’s something I really like.
“That is another difference from playing in League One and Two, the squads aren’t as strong compared to when you go to Brighton and you go to Derby.
“The squad here is littered with current and former international players, there’s household names in football here, so to be training with them and learning from them is only going to put me in good stead for my career.”
As well as making 35 appearances for the Rams, Clarke has scored one goal – in a 1-0 home win over Hull City back in January of this year.
