Ciaran Clark is Villa's 'Mr Versatile'

Ciaran Clark is happy to be Villa's 'Mr Versatile' - just as long he keeps his place in the claret and blues' starting line-up against Sunderland.

Manager Gerard Houllier has used Clark at centre-back as well as in the centre of midfield this season and he demonstrated his qualities at left-back in the thrilling draw at Chelsea.

Clark is arguably the most level headed of the clutch of academy graduates to have established themselves in the first-team squad this season.

With such an old head on young shoulders the 21-year-old seems set to be a part of the team for years to come - even if he has yet to figure out his best position.

He said: "I enjoyed playing left-back. It was a bit different. I have said that a few times this season but I will play anywhere for Villa.

"I am just happy to be out there.

Villa turn their attentions to Sunderland tomorrow night as they attempt to build on the 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge which saw a renewed sense of purpose among the team.

And Clark is eager for his Villa team-mates to match the levels they reached in the game with the champions when the Black Cats come to town.

He said: "Sunderland are having a good season, but we know we're good enough and proved that against Chelsea.

"Now we have to look to push on and use the confidence we've got to get a result against Sunderland."

Clark has also shown a knack of getting on the scoresheet this season, having scored twice earlier in the campaign in the 4-2 defeat to Arsenal at Villa Park.

However, the youngster valued his close-range glancing header which secured a point for Villa in the capital as more significant.

He said: "It was an unbelievable feeling and just brilliant but we can't dwell on this. We have to move forward now. We turn our attentions to Sunderland and we must make sure we get a good result.

"When that third went in for them, I thought 'here we go again.' But we showed how strong we really are when we came back and got the draw.

"I couldn't ask for any more really after that finish. We worked so hard for each other.

"It was like a dream - time seemed to stand still. I found space and hadn't really expected to but, when Marc Albrighton puts a great ball like that, you know you've just got to get on the end of it and something will happen.

"The lads all worked so hard, tirelessly throughout the match, and I think we definitely deserved to get something out of it.

"To have gone home empty handed would have been rough justice. We worked so hard as we have been doing in training.

"We've forgotten about the past two results against Spurs and Manchester City, got our heads down and worked for each other and that really showed on the pitch."