After a brilliant start to life as a Hatter, the man Nathan Jones describes as the 'best free transfer in history' is reflecting on his time with the club thus far.
Jordan Clark has proved to be somewhat of a revelation since Luton Town in August 2020 from Accrington Stanley but admitted himself that he didn’t foresee the role he would be featuring in at this stage.
Now a fully-fledged attacking midfielder supplying goals and assists for the Hatters, Clark didn’t share the vision his manager had for him initially.
“I remember when he first mentioned it to me, I was a bit taken aback by it. I have never played there before and to put me there in the Championship against some top players I was a bit unsure. I remember Mick Harford said to me about playing wing-back when I first came so I think they have a few positions for me!
“At first, I was finding my feet a little bit because I hadn’t played there before in my career but now, I’ve had a run of games there and I’m really enjoying it. You get more of the game in there, you have a lot more touches and that is what I like, to get on the ball, work hard and get after players because it suits my game down to the ground.”
He continued, “It is nice to be trusted to play anywhere in the team, it is good to be versatile. I played right wing for four years at Accrington but for the manager to trust me in probably the hardest position of them all, centre midfield, and in the Championship, it shows the faith he has in me and I’m really enjoying it. Like I’ve always said, as long as I’m in the eleven then I will play anywhere.”
Having established himself as a popular member of the team amongst players and supporters alike, the workhorse has ambitions that align with the club, hence his move to Kenilworth Road in the first place.
“It might sound daft, but I want to play in the Premier League. that is my goal, it has always been my goal and that is the club’s goal so that is why I came here because our ambitions align. If I can test myself against the top Championship teams and hopefully have a good game, that is all you can do to be honest.”
He impressed yet again in a midfield role against league leaders Fulham, but he was mostly taken aback by the ferociousness of the Luton faithful’s support from the stands.
“The fans are unbelievable to be fair. I said it before when I came here, it’s probably the hardest ground for an away player, especially when a goal goes in.
“This season they have been brilliant again, the Fulham game they were so good, especially in the second half when we were going after them and pressing them, playing on the front foot which is how we want to play. If we keep putting performances in, then I’m sure they will continue to come in their numbers.
“When we went to Blackpool there was more than 1,000 fans and they had to brave the conditions which is different class.”
And while fans have been used to seeing the same tenacious Jordan Clark on the pitch, the 28-year-old spoke about his big change off the pitch – being a father to little George!
“The first week or two was hard and I probably came into training like a zombie. We’re just getting into a routine but it’s the best thing in the world, I can’t believe how much I love him to bits to be honest and he doesn’t really do a lot! It has been a whirlwind and the hardest but the best job in the world to be a dad.”
Even with parental duty being a part of his life now, Clark insisted that he and the rest of his teammates will be going 'hell for leather' for the remainder of the season to achieve their lofty ambitions.