PORTLAND United manager Franklyn Clarke has shone light on the situation of experienced striker Lewis Clarke.

Forward Clarke has played just five times this season, scoring once, more often featuring for the Blues’ reserves.

His lack of game time comes as Portland’s first team struggled to convert a plethora of chances in the early part of the season.

Explaining why the front man’s minutes have been limited this season, boss Clarke said: “He’s been playing for the reserves keeping his match fitness up.

“He’s been quite unfortunate. He was away with work in the early part of the season and he was out of the squad while he started a new job.

“He couldn’t commit to training. (Now) Lewis trains with us on a weekly basis – he’s still at the club.”

Upon signing Lewis Clarke in the summer, his namesake Franklyn felt he could “set good examples for the younger ones and he has certainly done that.”