Accrington Stanley star: Jamie Clarke can be new Matt Derbyshire

12:20pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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ACCRINGTON STANLEY’S on-loan frontman Jamie Clarke can follow in the successful footsteps of Blackburn Rovers club-mate Matt Derbyshire.

That’s the opinion of current strike partner Paul Mullin, who is getting a close-up view of Clarke’s potential at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

The pair have started Stanley’s first three games of the season in tandem.

And Mullin has seen enough to suggest that Clarke has what it takes to make an impact at a higher level by mimicking the career path trodden by Derbyshire.

The former Great Harwood Town youngster was snapped up by Rovers but it was during a prolific loan spell in League Two with Wrexham in 2006 – when he scored ten times in 16 games – that the future England under-21 international made his mark.

“Matty Derbyshire got a good run of goals when he went to Wrexham and kicked on from there. I am sure Jamie has seen that and there’s no reason why he can’t do the same,” said Mullin.

“He has settled in well with the lads here and has the confidence to express himself and once he gets that first goal I’m sure that will set him off.

“I think once he gets his first one, which will not be too far away, he will get confidence from that and kick on.”

Clarke - who is on loan at Stanley initially until the turn of the year - hit the woodwork in Accrington’s games against Wolves and at Port Vale last weekend, when Mullin was again on target to give Stanley their first win of the season and hint at a fruitful pairing.

“It’s early days. We have only played three or four games and we are still learning about how each other plays,” added the Reds’ record appearance maker.

“Once we get on the same wavelength a bit more I think we can be an effective partnership. We are probably only about 50 per cent at the moment and there is a lot more to come from both of us.”

At just 20, Clarke still has plenty of developing to do but Mullin has been impressed at how he is adapting to the rigorous demands of League Two.

And with pace to burn and an eye for goal which he demonstrated at youth level at Ewood Park, Mullin is tipping him for a bright future. He said: “It’s not an easy league because it’s quite physical. It was probably a shock to him after the level of football he’s been used to. You’ve got to compete physically in this league and he’s getting to grips with that.

“If you have got pace and are willing to listen and learn you have got a great chance of having a good future and I think he has.”