LIFE couldn't be better professionally or personally for David Clarkson right now, but December is a month that will always hold painful memories.
It is nearly seven years since the striker's uncle, Phil O'Donnell, died after collapsing on the pitch at Fir Park while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United on December 29, 2007. The then 22-year-old Clarkson had scored twice in his team's 5-3 win before being substituted late on as O'Donnell, who had suffered heart failure, was rushed to Wishaw General Hospital to no avail.
Clarkson's form that season earned him a full Scotland debut and he scored in the 3-1 friendly defeat against the Czech Republic in Prague. A move to England followed in 2009, but Clarkson returned to Scotland three months ago and no-one who witnessed him coming to terms with the tragedy of O'Donnell's death would begrudge him the incredible goalscoring form at Dundee which has brought him back to nationwide attention.
A record-breaking run of eight goals in his first eight starts made him a fairly uncontroversial choice for SPFL player of the month for November.
"I still think about him a lot," Clarkson says of O'Donnell. His move north after five years in the West Country is allowing him to see more of O'Donnell's four children. "I have a lot of good memories of him outside football and with him in football. I was glad when I went away, but you do miss out on a lot of stuff. It's good to be back and seeing his family growing up. At this time of year, coming up to his anniversary, it does all come back. Every year I get people texting me or tweeting me telling me they're thinking about me and Motherwell as a club are good at remembering him."
Clarkson had the support of an understanding manager -in the shape of Mark McGhee - when tragedy struck and his belief in the player's abilities have never wavered. McGhee took Clarkson across the city to Bristol Rovers when he was released by Derek McInnes at Bristol City. Now, as Gordon Strachan's No 2, he is perfectly placed to press the 29-year-old's claim for a first Scotland call-up since the 1-0 friendly against Diego Maradona's Argentina in 2009 - should Clarkson's current form continue.
"I've had great times under Mark McGhee," Clarkson said. "He helped me a lot when Phil passed away. He understood what I needed whether it was a few days off training or just a bit of cheering up. I remember he told me to take a long weekend and get myself away with the missus. He told me to go and book a flight and get some sun. That's what I did. I got away from the football for a wee bit and came back and tried to get myself back into it. Small things like that really helped me."
Clarkson added: "The two Scotland games I played in are good memories for me. It's good that I experienced playing for my country. It's something to look back on. My first call-up came at the end of a year in which I'd been through a lot, so it came at a great time, but I never thought it would keep going forever or that I'd be in squads all the time."
The Clarkson who first came to nationwide attention was a skinny boy who ran the channels, a bit like his current Dundee prodigy Craig Wighton who he is attempting to mentor at Dens Park, giving the 17-year-old the benefit of the experience he gained down south, "I probably learned a lot from moving," Clarkson said. "You need the experience of going away and playing with different players in a different style of game - it's completely different from up here. I'm glad I did it. I think I became a better player and possibly a better person for it. I'm more mature."
Dundee manager Paul Hartley, Clarkson's former Bristol City team-mate, deserves the credit for coaxing him to full fitness and his best form. "I didn't know what he was like as a manager, but as a player, the qualities he had were magnificent," Clarkson said. "I think we both knew what we were going to get and it's good working under him. A bit weird to start with, but good."
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