Five months of training alone led Jordan Clark to a “dark place” but Luton Town’s newest signing says it’s made him hungrier than ever for success.
The 26-year-old signed for Town as a free agent last week after his Accrington Stanley contract expired.
Clark, who began pre-season training with the Hatters on Monday, had to endure an uncertain period as football was shutdown in March due to Coronavirus, with League One and League Two then cancelling the campaign.
So, while Luton were allowed to play out their season and achieve a final day Great Escape, Clark was left in limbo.
“I’m not going to lie, it was really hard,” he said, adding: “Then when the games came back it was even harder, watching it from afar.
“You were waiting for confirmation of the season getting cancelled and you were just going out running and training on your own. It’s a dark place at times.
“You just try to do the odd thing around the house and keep myself busy which, when you’re a footballer, is really hard because you’re not used to it.
“You’re used to a strict routine, going into training every day and doing things to improve as a footballer, so it was really tough at times.
“It was mentally testing, but I think that’s why I’m so excited to come into training now, because I’ve trained on my own and tried to improve myself as a player as much as I can, but you miss being around the players and the squad.
“Obviously, five months is a long time, and that was the last time I was at Accrington, so I’m like a sponge at the minute, just taking it all in.
“Some days I’m sat around thinking, ‘wow, it’s been so long, it’s been so long and I’m so happy right now, getting back on the grass, which is great.’
Having filled his days with odd jobs around the house during lockdown Clark added: “It was weird. At first it was (about saying) ‘let’s try to get used to this’ and then as time went on it was just getting harder and harder and harder.
“I suppose it just made me hungrier to be successful. That was might thought process at the time and when the chance came to come here, it was a no-brainer. I couldn’t believe it.
“Now I’m so hungry to improve under the staff and the gaffer and get better as a player and test myself in the Championship, which I’ve been waiting a long time to do.
“I’m really excited for it now and I just can’t wait to get going.”
