Leon Clarke - new fans' favourite - hits goal trail for Scunthorpe United

Some have lucky socks, others swear by superstitions. Leon Clarke has a lucky family.

It's worked for him before, and it seems to be doing the same again.

Twelve months ago, the 27-year-old front man enjoyed one of the most prolific spells of his career, scoring nine goals in 14 appearances for Chesterfield.

It helped, he says, that although miles away from his London base, he benefited from a few home comforts while on loan from Charlton Athletic.

When the chance came to spend three months at Scunthorpe United, not only did he jump at it, Clarke knew exactly the best way to help himself settle in.

"There was a family I lived with while I was at Chesterfield," he explained.

"They're a really nice family and looked after me really well, they welcomed me in with open arms.

"That was one of the reasons why I did well.

"I'm back living there again, so hopefully it will continue to be the same again.

"It seems to be like a lucky charm me living there because from the moment I was there I did well at Chesterfield.

"I came back there on the Friday when I signed for Scunthorpe, then scored on my debut.

"They're a family I know from when I was at Sheffield Wednesday and living in Sheffield.

"Sometimes it can be difficult when you're in a hotel and just looking at the four walls every day, it can be a bit boring.

"But being in a big family and in and around them – and I know the area really well – it's easy for me to settle in."

And that has proved to be the case as much on the pitch as off it.

Clarke wasted no time in making his mark for the Iron, finding the net within four minutes of his arrival against Sheffield United.

Super-quick goals have followed at Shrewsbury Town (fifth minute) and Oldham Athletic (third minute), already sealing his place in fans' affections.

Given Scunthorpe's early results, his arrival has offered some relief – and that scoring sequence is one the man himself is eager to keep up.

"The last year or two years have been nice for me, I've been scoring," said Clarke.

"Any player wants to hit the ground running on their debut.

"A couple of debuts I've had I've scored on, so it was nice to do it again. It's nice to keep the little run going.

"There's pressure on a striker at any team if you're not scoring.

"The manager's going to be looking at strikers to supply goals.

"In any team there's pressure, but you thrive on that and it keeps you going in games."

It all comes as a welcome change from his situation at Charlton.

Clarke signed for the Addicks in January but has made just seven appearances, being shipped out on loan to Crawley Town at the end of last term.

Manager Chris Powell has made the striker aware he does not feature in his plans, and with Iron boss Alan Knill admitting a permanent move to Glanford Park is unlikely, this is a chance to put himself in the shop window.

"There were a lot of things which came up in the summer but nothing really happened," Clarke explained.

"To be honest, I didn't think anything else was going to happen until January time maybe, so when this opportunity came up I jumped at it.

"I'm not in the plans at Charlton and I just want to play football.

"No explanation was given. I just wasn't involved in the manager's plans.

"Managers have preferences and I just wasn't one of his preferences.

"I went there after doing well at Chesterfield and then wasn't given an opportunity to play whatsoever.

"I played one or two games but I wasn't actually given a run in the team. I wouldn't say it's unfair, I just didn't get a fair crack of the whip.

"I'm trying not to think about the past, I'm trying to think about the present and hope I can do well here."

The former Wolves player is very much about moving on from the past.

A dispute with boss Paolo Di Canio while at Swindon Town is, he says, firmly behind him and he comes to Scunthorpe with nothing to prove.

"There was an incident at Swindon, but I've put it in the past and moved on," he said. "I went to Chesterfield and did well.

"Hopefully people saw that I was a good footballer and I did well at Chesterfield, hopefully that's the reason why they brought me to Charlton."

"That's in the past now, I'm just looking to the future and hopefully doing well."