Aston Villa's Clark commits to Ireland
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YOUNG Aston Villa starlet Ciaran Clark has sworn his international allegiance to the Rep. of Ireland, following protracted negotiations with the FAI.
It was no secret the Irish governing body were looking to secure the Harrow-born defender’s signature after clubmate Richard Dunne brought the players availability to the attentions of Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni.
Clark had captained England at U19 and U20 levels and although his stock has risen quite promisingly over the past month or so, having played in a number of games for the Villa first team, most notably in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea, the defender admitted it would be hard to make the mark on the England senior team.
The main reason, however, he has chosen to play for Ireland is to repay the faith his Irish-born mother and father put in him while he was learning his trade as a youngster.
“Why have I chosen to play for Ireland? For myself and my family,” he said.
“My family have done a lot for me over the years, since I was a little boy. I owe them a lot so I've made this decision for them. Richard Dunne mentioned it to Ireland and they looked into it and got in contact with me and the club. They gave me time to think about it and about my decision.
“If all the paperwork has gone through by the next game (against Norway), I'll be in contention so fingers crossed that happens. I was England Under-18 captain but I didn't think I was going anywhere really with that. When a young lad gets an opportunity like this, it is hard to turn down,” he added. Ciaran was born in Harrow, England in 1989, but has dozens of relations in Donegal, not least his grandmother Vera Clark who was born in Milford and now resides in Manorcunningham.
His progression to the Villa first team isn’t as surprising as you might think. At the age of nineteen, Clark held the skippers armband for the club’s reserve team, under Kevin McDonald.
After making his first full appearance in the Villa first team last year against Fulham, Clark had to wait almost another full season before pulling on the claret and blue again.
So far this season he has played in three of Villa’s first eight Premier League games and rumours have since circulated that Manchester United are preparing to table a bid to take him to Old Trafford in January – a possible swap with Wayne Rooney perhaps.
It was no secret the Irish governing body were looking to secure the Harrow-born defender’s signature after clubmate Richard Dunne brought the players availability to the attentions of Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni.
Clark had captained England at U19 and U20 levels and although his stock has risen quite promisingly over the past month or so, having played in a number of games for the Villa first team, most notably in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with champions Chelsea, the defender admitted it would be hard to make the mark on the England senior team.
The main reason, however, he has chosen to play for Ireland is to repay the faith his Irish-born mother and father put in him while he was learning his trade as a youngster.
“Why have I chosen to play for Ireland? For myself and my family,” he said.
“My family have done a lot for me over the years, since I was a little boy. I owe them a lot so I've made this decision for them. Richard Dunne mentioned it to Ireland and they looked into it and got in contact with me and the club. They gave me time to think about it and about my decision.
“If all the paperwork has gone through by the next game (against Norway), I'll be in contention so fingers crossed that happens. I was England Under-18 captain but I didn't think I was going anywhere really with that. When a young lad gets an opportunity like this, it is hard to turn down,” he added. Ciaran was born in Harrow, England in 1989, but has dozens of relations in Donegal, not least his grandmother Vera Clark who was born in Milford and now resides in Manorcunningham.
His progression to the Villa first team isn’t as surprising as you might think. At the age of nineteen, Clark held the skippers armband for the club’s reserve team, under Kevin McDonald.
After making his first full appearance in the Villa first team last year against Fulham, Clark had to wait almost another full season before pulling on the claret and blue again.
So far this season he has played in three of Villa’s first eight Premier League games and rumours have since circulated that Manchester United are preparing to table a bid to take him to Old Trafford in January – a possible swap with Wayne Rooney perhaps.
