JACK Clarke was on the receiving end of a Tony Mowbray rollicking at half-time of Sunderland's draw with Hull City - but the boss got the "amazing" reaction he was hoping for.
Clarke was one of Sunderland's stand-out players on Friday night, scoring one goal and teeing up two more, and yet Mowbray wasn't happy with the way the winger started the game and let him know at the interval.
"I had a big shout at him at half-time, to be honest, I thought he was really poor for 20 minutes but his reaction was amazing.
"We can't sit here and question Jack Clarke's talent, he has double-figure goals now from the left wing and I think probably double-figure assists as well.
"He's a great player and yet he has to understand - and in my mind he is still a young boy - that we need 90 minutes, not a brilliant 60 minutes.
"Yet, notoriously, wide attackers are a bit flighty, generally.
"I want Jack to be the best player every game, score goals, create goals, and be too good for the Championship. He has to embrace that and want to do it, and not be happy if he is getting shouted at."
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Sunderland's squad know that if Mowbray does have to dish out some harsh words, it's always with the best interests of the players in mind, is never personal and will soon be forgotten.
Mowbray said: "I've said to him (Clarke) that I'll always love him. I'll shout at him, I'll get annoyed, but the next morning I'll make you a cup of tea and put my arm around you, it's fine - life's good.
"We're trying to win football matches and everybody needs to find top performances every game, but sometimes players find it hard to perform at a level and that's the challenge for them."
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