Aston Villa’s Star of the International Break

Name: Ciaran Clark
Position: Defender
Country: Republic of Ireland

Centre-half Clark netted his second international goal for the Republic of Ireland against Switzerland last Friday.

Despite featuring once during the international break; Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark will return to the Championship bound outfit this week with the biggest sense of pride after scoring for the Republic of Ireland over the Easter period.

The 26-year-old, who now has 15 international caps for his country, headed home the winning goal during Friday night’s 1-0 victory over Switzerland inside Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Clark, who has made just 14 Premier League appearances for the English top-flight’s rock-bottom outfit so far this season, scored the eventual match winner just two minutes into the match, converting central defensive partner Shane Duffy’s flick-on from a Robbie Brady corner.

Despite his goalscoring heroics last week, the Villan sat out Ireland’s 2-2 draw against Slovakia on Tuesday night.

Martin O’Neill’s men fell behind to their fellow Euro 2016 qualifiers after Miroslav Stoch’s opener in Dublin, only for quick-fire penalties from Shane Long and James McClean to turn the tables rapidly for Ireland and give the hosts a 2-1 lead inside 24 minutes.

However Paul McShane’s own goal on the stroke of half-time gifted Slovakia a share of the spoils come full-time.