Homesick Clark has to kick his heels

Fulham's Lee Clark has today spoken of his nightmare season and said he is still homesick for the North-East.

The midfielder, who has started just four games this season, will miss the trip to face his beloved Newcastle tonight because of the Achilles problem that has destroyed his season.

He has also ruled himself out of the FA Cup semifinal with Chelsea on Sunday. He said: "To miss playing at St James' and not be able to thank the people who supported me so well when I was there and who support me still when I go home, is a real disappointment.

"Since leaving in the summer of 1997 I've never had the opportunity to play at St James'. It's the first game I look for when the fixtures come out, so to miss this one is a bit of a kick in the teeth.

"It's a special place and I get up there as often as possible. I went to the Everton game on Good Friday and go to the matches whenever I can. If they're playing in London and I can see them, then I'll go.

"When I joined Fulham it meant coming to London, a place I never thought I would play. It's three years in June that I've been here but I'm still not used to it."

Clark is trying to be upbeat about his injury. "On the positive side I'm 29 and it's the first time I've been out so long," he said. "I just hope I can get going again for next season.

"I'm at a good club with an ambitious chairman, fantastic manager and very good players. We've just got to stay in the Premier League and then build on it."