The 21-year-old grabbed three quick wickets to put his side in contention for their first victory of the new Second Division season.

And that burst included the wicket of England opener Alastair Cook, in what was only Clare's third County Championship outing.

The former Burnley paceman hit an afternoon hot streak on Wednesday, taking three wickets for one run in 23 balls to reduce Essex to 76-5.

The seamers wasted little time in getting rid of the visiting top order, with Clare soon taking charge with his medium-fast right-armers.

The former St Theodore's RC High School pupil didn't take long in trapping Cook plumb in front for 27, before Mark Pettini edged one behind to Jamie Pipe and Ryan ten Doeschate played on to his stumps.

Clare ended day one with figures of 3-40 from 15 overs, as Essex, thanks to an unbeaten 136 from Ravi Bopara, managed to climb to 269-9 at stumps.

And former Turf Moor favourite Clare will be hoping to get his eye in early to polish off the visitors, before transferring his form into his batting.

Clare only made his County Championship debut back in September, taking 5-90 against Nottinghamshire as Derbyshire were crushed by an innings and six runs.

He followed that with another five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire two weeks later, but he has yet to taste success on the county scene.

Meanwhile, former Burnley team-mate James Anderson returned to action for Lancashire this week.

The "Burnley Express" grabbed 2-44 as the red rose county took control of their match with Somerset at Old Trafford.

Anderson removed Marcus Trescothick after he was caught by Stuart Law in the slips for 77, before returning later to wrap up the innings with the removal of Michael Munday.

Lancashire ended day two 60-0 after bowling out the visitors for 238, and Anderson will look to help his side record their first victory of the campaign after they drew their opening First Division contest at Surrey.

That match also saw two wickets for former Read paceman Oliver Newby, who was the unfortunate man to make way for Anderson against Somerset.

He grabbed 2-112 at the Brit Oval, including the wicket of former England mainstay Mark Ramprakash, but his inability to shake off a niggling injury ruled him out of the Old Trafford showdown.