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Exclusive: Newcastle hero Clark rubbishes Chelsea, Man Utd interest in son Bobby

Lee Clark says reports about his son and Newcastle United starlet Bobby are "purely speculation".

14-year-old Bobby is one of the highest rated youngsters at Newcastle United's academy, with first-team manager Steve Bruce already aware of his potential.

He made history at Toon this season when he became the youngster player to feature for the U18s at the age of 14 years and 206 days.

Clark's performances this season have earned him a spot in the England U15 side that will take on Republic of Ireland and Turkey next month.

The Daily Mail says his exploits have also attracted a number of big clubs around Europe.

The report claims Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have shown an interest in young Clark, with Tottenham supposedly the frontrunners for his signature.

But writing in his column for Tribalfootball, Clark insisted that Bobby is thoroughly enjoying his time at the Magpies academy.

He said: "All the reports about my son Bobby are purely speculation. As I've wrote in this column in the past, I'm here for Bobby as his father to give him advice. I've been where he is at this moment in time.

"We are a very, very proud family that he has been selected to represent England against the Republic of Ireland and Turkey. It's a great feat so we're extremely proud. He's getting coached very well at Newcastle's academy. Everyone who is there and the various different teams he plays in are terrific.

"Ben Dawson, the head of coaching, I have a good relationship with and I have regular contact with him and talk about how Bobby is getting on. And I let them guys get on with coaching him and looking after him. They are doing a terrific job."

Having also broken through the ranks at Newcastle, Clark has a unique understanding of Bobby's situation.

And the Blyth Spartans manager insists he will always help his son, while being careful not to interfere with his coaching at Newcastle.

"I'm always here if he wants to talk about things away from his coaches which sometimes he might want to do. But I'm certainly not in there telling him he should be doing this and doing that. That's up to his coaches.

"He's going to have ups, like the stuff with England, and he's going to have downs, it's part of the young player's career, and he'll have us as a family when those tough times come. But overall I'm really happy with how he is going at the academy and the help he is getting there."

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Andrew Maclean
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