Former Leeds United star Noel Whelan believes Jack Clarke, like the rest of the Leeds United team, is too soft and will need to learn how to scrap when needed.
Clarke was thrown into the mix in the second half on Monday evening as Marcelo Bielsa looked to see his side fight back against Brentford at Griffin Park.
But the youngster made very little impact and Leeds lost their second game in a row, which has severely dented their hopes of earning automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Whelan admits that Clarke is still very young, but makes no bones about the fact he needs to learn quickly that in some games he has to scrap and play ugly if the situation requires it.
He believes the youngster, like the rest of the Leeds team, showed a lack of mental toughness, which they needed away at Brentford on Monday.
Whelan said on BBC Radio Leeds after the game: “He's a young lad that's going to have to learn, and learn quickly, that when you come on into games and you're not winning, you've got to be strong mentally and tough.
“And it just seemed like he showed that mentality today and that softness, which I think is throughout the side to be quite honest, I think there is a softness about us.
“I'd like us to be a little bit more horrible in many areas of the field.”
Clarke and Leeds will need to win their last two games and hope Sheffield United slip up in order to end the season in the Championship's top two.
