PUBLISHED
12:00 30th January 2014
Clarke's reasons for Wolves return
When I found out Wolves were interested I jumped at the opportunity to try and come back"
Leon Clarke
Leon Clarke is back on ‘home soil’ having returned to Wolves admitting he “jumped at the opportunity” of a second spell at Molineux.
The 28-year-old striker admits there were mixed feelings about leaving a Coventry side where he has enjoyed his football and been prolific in front of goal, but that the chance to return to Wolves was something he just couldn’t turn down.
“I’m really happy to be back at Wolves,” he said.
“I left when I was 21 and it feels really nice to be back.
“When I found out Wolves were interested I jumped at the opportunity to try and come back.
“Wolves are a massive club and I’d been here before for so long so it was always something that was going to appeal to me.
“The season has gone really well so far with 18 goals in all competitions.
“A lot of that is down to my team-mates at Coventry and strike partner Callum Wilson before he got injured.
“I have to thank my former team-mates for helping me find good form at Coventry.
“From the day I joined Coventry I thoroughly enjoyed it, I hit the ground running and managed to score a few goals.
“I know there are Coventry fans who are going to be disappointed and I would say that while I was keen to move to Wolves it was still a difficult decision to leave Coventry.
“It was a difficult situation for me there in the end but when the opportunity did come to move to Wolves it was something that was always going to interest me.
“There are a lot of things at Wolves that appealed to me.
“The stadium, the ambition of the club, where they are striving to be.
“To be able to be a part of that is really encouraging for anyone potentially joining the club.
“There is the chance to go for automatic promotion and that was another factor in my decision.”
“There it is”,” said Clarke as he walked up the corridor at the Compton training ground and saw his photograph among those of all the Academy graduates who have progressed to the Wolves first team.
Familiar surroundings then, and a few familiar faces as well, notably among the Wolves’ goalkeeping fraternity past and present.
“I still speak to Carl Ikeme a lot and we meet up outside football,” says Clarke.
“He was here having treatment when I came in for my medical and it was good to see him.
“We’ve always spoken a lot about football and how each of us have been getting on.
“Wayne was in the Academy when I was although I haven’t seen him for a while.
“I stayed in touch with Matt Murray as well and we went out for dinner a few weeks ago to catch up.
“My family and friends will be happy that I’m back as well and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Clarke went straight into training today as Wolves prepare for Saturday’s home game with Bradford (3pm).
Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/nice-to-be-back-300114-1327322.aspx#gVcmtqV3et8XSXAS.99
12:00 30th January 2014
Clarke's reasons for Wolves return
When I found out Wolves were interested I jumped at the opportunity to try and come back"
Leon Clarke
Leon Clarke is back on ‘home soil’ having returned to Wolves admitting he “jumped at the opportunity” of a second spell at Molineux.
The 28-year-old striker admits there were mixed feelings about leaving a Coventry side where he has enjoyed his football and been prolific in front of goal, but that the chance to return to Wolves was something he just couldn’t turn down.
“I’m really happy to be back at Wolves,” he said.
“I left when I was 21 and it feels really nice to be back.
“When I found out Wolves were interested I jumped at the opportunity to try and come back.
“Wolves are a massive club and I’d been here before for so long so it was always something that was going to appeal to me.
“The season has gone really well so far with 18 goals in all competitions.
“A lot of that is down to my team-mates at Coventry and strike partner Callum Wilson before he got injured.
“I have to thank my former team-mates for helping me find good form at Coventry.
“From the day I joined Coventry I thoroughly enjoyed it, I hit the ground running and managed to score a few goals.
“I know there are Coventry fans who are going to be disappointed and I would say that while I was keen to move to Wolves it was still a difficult decision to leave Coventry.
“It was a difficult situation for me there in the end but when the opportunity did come to move to Wolves it was something that was always going to interest me.
“There are a lot of things at Wolves that appealed to me.
“The stadium, the ambition of the club, where they are striving to be.
“To be able to be a part of that is really encouraging for anyone potentially joining the club.
“There is the chance to go for automatic promotion and that was another factor in my decision.”
“There it is”,” said Clarke as he walked up the corridor at the Compton training ground and saw his photograph among those of all the Academy graduates who have progressed to the Wolves first team.
Familiar surroundings then, and a few familiar faces as well, notably among the Wolves’ goalkeeping fraternity past and present.
“I still speak to Carl Ikeme a lot and we meet up outside football,” says Clarke.
“He was here having treatment when I came in for my medical and it was good to see him.
“We’ve always spoken a lot about football and how each of us have been getting on.
“Wayne was in the Academy when I was although I haven’t seen him for a while.
“I stayed in touch with Matt Murray as well and we went out for dinner a few weeks ago to catch up.
“My family and friends will be happy that I’m back as well and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Clarke went straight into training today as Wolves prepare for Saturday’s home game with Bradford (3pm).
Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/nice-to-be-back-300114-1327322.aspx#gVcmtqV3et8XSXAS.99
:laugh:
