Ryan raring to go after omission (From Worcester News)

Ryan raring to go after omission

10:00am Wednesday 1st February 2012

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By Steve Carley »

FINDING Ryan Clarke’s name among the substitutes is unusual at Worcester City.

Such has been the defender’s prominence at St George’s Lane, he has been a nailed-on pick every week at either right-back or centre-half.

Being dropped to the bench for last Saturday’s trip to Workington was the first time he had been a substitute during his two stints at the Blue Square Bet North club.

Prior to that, the 28-year-old had started 117 games for City and only missed matches through suspension.

Clarke was a surprising omission at Borough Park, and didn’t play a part at all in Cumbria, but has not been at his best in recent weeks and was taken out of the firing line.

He was again on the bench against Histon on Monday night but replaced the injured Lee Ayres at half-time and, with injuries to fellow defenders Stuart Whitehead and Jacob Rowe, is almost certain to be reinstated when Gainsborough visit on Saturday.

Clarke, a former City captain and player-of-the-year, is hoping the brief break will be good for him in the long run.

“It’s the first time I have been sub for Worcester,” he said. “Carl (Heeley) pulled me to one side on Saturday and said he wanted to freshen things up because we had got a lot of new faces and we hadn’t been doing so well.

“I have only missed 90 minutes so I don’t think it’s that disastrous. I am not happy with not playing but you would be worried if I was accepting that.

“It’s for Carl to pick the team but the main thing for us is to get back on track because we haven’t had a particularly fruitful January.

“My attitude doesn’t change being on the bench, I still commit myself to every game but maybe I will feel a bit fresher the next time I play a full match. I had played every minute until last Saturday and it does tend to catch up with you.”

With Rowe, Whitehead and Ayres all proficient at centre-half, along with Rob Elvins, and full-backs Tyler Weir and Ellis Deeney also on board, there is now plenty of competition for places in defence.

Clarke admits that can only be a good thing and is hoping the new recruits, which also include winger Greg Mills, can help inspire City to a return to form.

Drawing 1-1 with Histon on Monday meant Worcester have failed to win any of their six games in January, a stark contrast to the end of 2011 when they went six league games unbeaten.

“It feels a bit of an anti-climax because we had been doing so well,” Clarke said.

“If you lose a couple of games, you get short on confidence whereas we were putting teams away with ease before the turn of the year.

“There’s a lot of matches to play so I’m hoping the new players will make an impact. The play-offs are not out of reach and that’s still the aim.”

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