CONSIDERING he's a major obstacle on the left flank that will make it very difficult for Romaine Mundle to force his way into the Sunderland team, you'd understand if the winger was keeping a close eye on Jack Clarke transfer developments this summer.

But even if Clarke is keeping him out of the team, Mundle won't be pushing the former Leeds man to the exit door, for the pair are extremely close having played together at Tottenham, and the January recruit loves learning from and picking the brains of Sunderland's star man.

Mundle and Clarke were on Tottenham's books together before the former headed for Belgium to join Standard Liege and the latter linked up with Sunderland.

On Wearside, Clarke has flourished and was undoubtedly one of the Championship's best performers last season, leading to transfer interest from several clubs in the Premier League and in Europe.

But it's been surprisingly quiet so far this summer, despite the fact top flight clubs continue to monitor the winger's situation.

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While Clarke remains a Sunderland player, Mundle will continue to study his fellow flanker - which can only benefit the Black Cats moving forward.

"I love Jack, me and Jack have been together from Tottenham days as well," said the winger, who caught the eye in the midweek defeat at Bradford.

"I've always been looking up to Jack. We love each other and he's an unbelievable player, a player that I watch in training every day. He's a perfect attacker to look up to and learn from.

"He helped me settle in with the club. I talk to Jack daily. He's always been there for me and taken me under his wing. He's there to guide me. I'm there looking at him in training and learning off him as well. I couldn't think of a better example to learn off."

Although it didn't work out for Clarke at Tottenham - he signed when he was just 18 - Mundle could see the winger's class in the capital, but was struck by how much the 23-year-old had developed when the pair were reunited at Sunderland at the start of this year.

He said: "He's definitely grown as a player. It's unbelievable now. It was unbelievable back then as well.

"He's just got his shot here and he's really taken it. He's got games under his belt. Scoring and assisting is unbelievable in these games. I think Jack Clarke is an unbelievable player."