Matt Clarke is delighted he can look forward to playing more first-team football after completing a loan move to Pompey from Ipswich.

The 18-year-old has joined the Blues until January and told the club website: ‘I’m delighted to be here. I’ve already played a few games, so it’s great to have all the paperwork signed.

‘I’ve enjoyed the matches that I’ve been involved in so far and have done alright, so now I want to improve from there. I spent a lot of time on the bench last season and just got a few minutes here and there, so I wanted to go out and hopefully get some more regular football.’

Boss Paul Cook told The News left-footed Clarke, who played five times for the Ipswich first XI last season, would add balance to the defence. 'I’ve wanted a left-footed player in the centre of defence, I think it is a natural thing in a team.

‘You want to go up both sides of the pitch, but if you have got an imbalance it doesn’t work like that. There is no natural right-footer who will want to come out on his left side and you will end up seeing too many balls in the stand.

‘Matt is left-footed and has done well for us in the pre-season games he has played. He just gives us that natural balance. It is something I have wanted to introduce to the team, I think it is important.’

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