Lambert: Clark has ‘stepped up’ for Villa

Paul Lambert has tipped Ireland’s Ciaran Clark to push for regular first-team football, even when Aston Villa solve their defensive injury crisis.

Clark and fellow stand-in Jores Okore forged a resilient central defensive pairing in Villa’s 1-0 Premier League victory at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.

The makeshift duo battled manfully amid the continued absence of long-term injury trio Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker.