City striker Leon Clarke hopes his experience will help younger players in the squad next season...
Coventry City striker Leon Clarke believes his experience in League One will prove valuable as the Sky Blues look to mount another promotion challenge in the 2013/14 season.
The City forward, who scored 21 league goals in the 2012/13 season, is currently receiving treatment for an ankle injury in a bid to be fit for the start of pre-season.
With manager Steven Pressley wanting to operate with a smaller and younger squad next season, Clarke knows his experience will help some of the younger players along.
The 29-year old said: “With teams like Wolves and Bristol City coming down to League One, I think it will be good for some of the younger players to get that sort of experience.
“You can only improve as a player if you play against better sides. We are going to have a much younger side next season which is good for the future of the club.
“There are some really good young players at the club so hopefully they can take their chance when they get it.”
Cyrus Christie, Conor Thomas and Blair Adams make up the young core of the City squad with the City right-back Christie winning the Young Player of the Season award.
Clarke continued, saying he believes captain Carl Baker and goalkeeper Joe Murphy will also help the younger players progression.
He added: “It will be up to the likes of me, Bakes (Carl Baker) and Joe Murphy to help them in games, and make sure they are doing the right things.
“We have to help them out as much as we can. Hopefully, if we can do that, the younger players will grow in confidence throughout the season which will stand us in good stead in the future.”