Ciaran Clark is close to joining Sheffield United on loan in a move that will effectively bring an end to the defender's time at Newcastle United.
Clark has not played a competitive game for Newcastle since January after being left out of the 25-man squad for the second half of last season by Eddie Howe. Although Clark continued to train with the first team after that setback, the centre-back has since been told to prepare for the new campaign at the academy building this summer.
Clark has not been training with the club's youngsters for long, though, after Sheffield United offered to take him on a season-long loan and the 32-year-old will now complete a medical with the promotion-chasing Championship outfit. Given how Clark only has a year left on his contract at Newcastle, the loan will bring an end to the former Ireland international's six-year stay at Newcastle as he will, obviously, become a free agent next summer.
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Clark only played four games under Howe, but the Newcastle head coach valued the veteran's contribution behind the scenes last season. Clark may have been ineligible in the second half of the campaign, but the defender continued to push and support those around him as he trained as if he was still available for selection. Dan Burn, who took Clark's place in the squad, went on to hail the defender for being 'nothing but professional' and 'really good around the group'.
Clark ultimately made 112 appearances for Newcastle and was the club's player of the year winner when the Magpies were promoted from the Championship as champions in 2017.
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