'Dreams to reality' - How injury cost Walsall's Courtney Clarke his Championship debut in 2022

The Rams' relegation to League One had been confirmed by the time Rooney presented the news to Clarke that he would involved in the final game against Cardiff City at Pride Park in 2022. 

Rooney had applied his faith in young players, after a tumultuous campaign, which had seen Derby deducted a total of 21 points. 

Clarke trained eagerly in anticipation for the weekend ahead, when suddenly, injury struck...

'Wow, it's Wayne Rooney' - Courtney Clarke on working under England and Manchester United legend

"Rooney did tell me I was going to make my debut for Derby in the Championship against Cardiff," Clarke revealed.

"I was preparing for that and then I broke my foot, but Rooney really like people who were creative and brave. 

"That's what he was as a player and he would love youngsters who played with freedom as well.

"When I first saw him, I had to blink like five times. 'Wow, it's Wayne Rooney'."

Football can be cruel and Clarke had just experienced the fine line between success and failure.

'From dreams to reality'

After erupting on to the academy scene following his switch from ninth-tier Whyteleafe, Clarke had come so close to his professional debut. 

Instead, Clarke would make just six more appearances for the under-21s, before finding himself without a club in January 2023.

"It was very challenging. I remember sending to my mum 'from dreams to reality'. From when Rooney told me that to then when that happened," he laughed, in retrospect.

Clarke would have to rebuild again and he kick-started his renaissance with South Shields in the summer of 2023, hungry to prove a point.

"Some people say maybe my route is not the best, but I feel like that was the perfect route. 

'I'm still living the dream now'

"I saw so many things and experienced so many different things, which has made me the player that I am now. 

"I've met lots of people who've given me so much advice and the confidence to play with freedom. 

"I'm still living the dream now, back in the EFL, and I'm grateful to Walsall for making that happen." 

Clarke has made a promising start to life in the Football League with Walsall - registering three assists in 14 appearances across all competitions. 

His explosiveness from midfield has been key at times from the bench, but he could be poised for just his second league start with left wing-back Vincent Harper on international duty. 

"I'm happy to be on the pitch every time and the gaffer knows whatever position I do play, then I'm going to make a difference," he concluded. 

"I'll just try to be the difference maker every time. Because I've been coming on in games, my style of play has worked even more because the opposition teams are not expecting what I can do."