Leighton Clarkson‘s time at Aberdeen proved to be a sleeper hit, with the Liverpool midfielder thrown a “curveball” with regards to his future.
Clarkson put a tricky spell with Blackburn final trip behind him as he joined Aberdeen on a season-long deal in August.
The 21-year-old loved an everyday beginning function with the Dons and ended the marketing campaign with six targets and 9 assists from 38 appearances.
It was not all clean crusing, in fact, with Aberdeen enduring their worst lead to historical past with defeat to sixth-tier Darvel in January, adopted by an unsurprising change of supervisor.
However a late surge to complete third within the Scottish Premiership and guide a route into Europe has led to hypothesis over Clarkson becoming a member of the membership completely.
For an perception into Clarkson’s time at Aberdeen and his future, we spoke to Ruaraidh Britton (@RuaraidhB), trainee reporter at Aberdeen Reside.
It has been a wierd marketing campaign for Aberdeen, however the place has Clarkson slot in?
Regardless of the difficult run after the World Cup, Clarkson managed to bounce again in terrific trend.
Barry Robson’s arrival led to him being adjusted to a deep-sitting midfield function and he has excelled at creating possibilities and dictating the attacking play.
The upturn in kind has contributed massively to his performances as he managed to get pleasure from his soccer much more, nevertheless it’s not been the smoothest of journeys to Europe.
He, like a number of different members of the Dons squad, have stepped as much as the problem and been rightly rewarded – and it might throw a curveball when his subsequent profession transfer.
What have his strengths and weaknesses been? And which is his greatest function?
His most important power has come when he has been given the liberty to create possibilities operating from a deep place in the midst of the park.
That has seen Clarkson feed the strikers with some wonderful assists, however the high quality that has caught everybody out has been at set-pieces.
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The free-kick towards St Mirren which helped seal European soccer was an ideal instance, and one a number of events he has managed to drag a screamer out the bag.
Nevertheless, there are nonetheless questions over his capacity to dictate a recreation when the midfield is trying overrun, significantly in clashes towards Celtic and Rangers.
With the ability to add a Fabinho-like component of defence in stopping assaults early can be an enormous factor for Clarkson to work on, however come the top of an extended rollercoaster of a season he has shone when sitting deep within the Aberdeen midfield.
Anything you’ll be able to inform us out of your expertise masking Clarkson at Aberdeen?
Watching Clarkson over the 40-plus video games has been a combined bag, as his six targets and 9 assists have been unfold out over the season.
There are some video games the place it’s important to look significantly near see what he’s able to offering.
However watching him rating a shocking free-kick and even his back-heeled end towards Hibs in November has made him a very particular expertise to observe from the press bench.
There’s a extremely gifted participant there and we’d like to see him again within the Premiership.
Ideally if he was to return to Aberdeen you get the sensation it might be one other marketing campaign of the eye-catching play-making we now have seen all season.
However this can be a younger lad who needs common soccer that he enjoys at a membership with a way of belonging, and that’s precisely what he acquired at Pittodrie.
Have you ever heard any reality in rumours linking him with Celtic and Rangers?
The hypothesis over a transfer to Celtic or Rangers appeared to fade fairly rapidly, and it hasn’t actually reared its head since.
A latest report suggesting curiosity from Studying felt weird but anticipated, because it was anticipated groups throughout England within the decrease leagues can be enthusiastic about bringing him again south of the border – however you’ll be able to’t see him choosing a membership in Studying’s circumstances.
The most recent we now have heard is {that a} deal is in place to return to Aberdeen, nevertheless it’s all all the way down to Clarkson now to make what’s arguably the largest determination of his profession.
It could possibly be depart Liverpool, the membership he loves, and return to a aspect the place he has turn out to be a star expertise that’s massively appreciated, or proceed to graft on Merseyside for the prospect to interrupt right into a midfield that wants a contemporary burst of life.
Aberdeen actually don’t need to lose out on Clarkson, and that’s clear to see.
So he must spend his weeks off considering lengthy and exhausting about if he’s going to proceed to construct on his gorgeous marketing campaign, or gamble on what Liverpool determine his future ought to be.
Clarkson shall be 22 in October and it appears unlikely he’ll keep at Liverpool – what are you able to see for him subsequent?
In latest feedback Clarkson had stated he by no means thought he’d transfer to Scotland and play soccer for a Premiership membership, and he added that he was shocked on the stage of high quality and urged any younger participant to comply with his path.
That comes throughout as a participant who has been delighted along with his determination and is now critically contemplating the choice of specializing in his improvement with a membership like Aberdeen.
He has put his identify and his skills on the market for all to see this season, and I can see him determined to maintain on that trajectory.
The one factor that’s tough for him is abandoning a membership like Liverpool who’ve an astonishing attraction about them.
I can’t see a direct determination given we’re simply days faraway from the top of the seasons in England and Scotland, in addition to the maturity he should conjure as much as make the large name.
However with how effectively he has carried out with the Dons and the way a lot he has loved his frequent appearances, there could be a need to step again out on the Pittodrie pitch subsequent season.
He’s a valued asset to this Aberdeen aspect, and that may solely be one other component drawing him in to maintain his improvement on course.
• Thanks once more to Ruaraidh Britton for his perception on Clarkson at Aberdeen. Comply with Ruaraidh on Twitter @RuaraidhB.
