Jack Clarke Shines in Ipswich Opener

Jack Clarke cost Ipswich £20m when he arrived from Sunderland two years ago. On the opening day of the new season, he started on the bench and watched. Then he walked on and won the game.

Gary O'Neil, in his first competitive match in charge after replacing Kieran McKenna in the summer, made a statement with his team sheet. Seven new signings started, a clear show of faith in a squad rebuilt at serious expense. More than £100m has gone into this transfer window as Ipswich try to re-establish themselves after being relegated from the top flight two seasons ago.

One of those new faces lit up the afternoon. Julio Enciso, signed from Strasbourg for an undisclosed fee, drove Ipswich forward and set the tone with his aggression out of possession. When Luke O'Nien played a lazy pass across his own half, Enciso pounced, stole the ball, then glided past Dan Ballard before laying on Town's first goal. It was exactly the kind of sharp, ruthless moment Ipswich paid for.

Enciso eventually made way in the 71st minute, replaced by Clarke. The script flipped.

Sunderland tried to play out again. Omar Alderete saw his pass picked off and Ipswich broke with purpose. Clarke, fresh and eager to make his mark after watching most of the contest, produced the decisive flash of quality that settled the match and underlined his value in a squad suddenly packed with attacking options.

O'Neil’s opening day ended with three points, his big-money rebuild already delivering key contributions at both ends of the pitch. Next up is a different kind of test: a Carabao Cup tie at home to League One Leicester City on Tuesday night (19:45 BST), and another chance for Ipswich’s new era to show it has real depth as well as headlines.