Iron defender Jordan Clarke has been in a rich vein of form recently and it’s something he’s hopeful of carrying all the way through to the commencement of next season.
“Before Scott (Wiseman) got injured, I was coming back into the team anyway, so it’s not a case of he’s injured and I’m back in now,” the 24-year-old said.“I was back in on merit and obviously he got the injury which he’s got. But obviously I’m pleased to be playing, whatever the circumstances.
“Going into next season, I can only take the form into it, come back as fit as possible, do my best again and start the season well.”
Clarke believes the Iron didn’t get the luck they deserved in their narrow away loss against Bradford City last weekend.
United were edged out 1-0 by Phil Parkinson’s side but, in Clarke’s eyes, the visitors were unfortunate to not take more from the game.
He said: “I thought in the first half especially, we started really well. We didn’t let them have chances and they didn’t get many crosses into the box. We attacked well, and I thought Haks (Adelakun) did really well, taking on people and creating chances.
“I suppose we needed the luck, because they cleared a couple off the line. Other than that, it was a quite even game. In the second half they changed their tactics to mainly kicking it long, but that’s what they’re good at.
“The goal came about quite luckily, with them just bringing (James) Hanson (and Steven Davies) on. He just flicked a hopeful ball inside, they’ve got a cross in and that was that.
“I think we did create enough to win the game, I thought we defended resolutely, but we just couldn’t get the goal we needed.”
United take on promotion-chasing Burton Albion at Glanford Park on Saturday, a match Clarke feels will be a good barometer of how far he and his teammates have come.
He highlighted how difficult a test the Brewers will provide, while at the same stating it’s an encounter the Iron will be looking to take three points from.
“I’ve watched a bit of Burton, because they’ve been on TV quite often. They are top of the table and they’ve been consistent in their results,” he stated.
“So obviously it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re looking to take points off them, because it’d be a good result for us, and a good indicator of where we’re at.”
See much more from Jordan Clarke, Graham Alexander and Luke Williams on The Iron PlayerHD.