The Betfair Big Interview: Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark

Ciaran Clark was talking to Ralph Ellis

Aston Villa's young side have started to show promising signs - Betfair went to their Bodymoor Heath training ground to meet Ciaran Clark, likely to be captain in today's game at Chelsea, to learn about the progress...

Hi Ciaran. The Villa side that won at Liverpool was the youngest in Premier League history. What does that mean for the club's future?

Well I think it's a good thing - we have come through from the youth team - and even younger than that for some of us - we have won youth and reserve leagues on the way. Most of all we are all good mates and we do know each other's games quite well, and I think that really helps.

Is there still a place in the Premier League for a group coming through together? There's so much emphasis on big money signings from abroad.

I think so. I think we have shown this season that we can compete with the bigger teams. That is obviously down to us working hard, and in the last few weeks we created a few chances and then at Norwich an Liverpool some of the goals have been brilliant, and the finishes unbelievable. If we can play like that every week and just keep our consistency then we should be able to.

How have the new players fitted in?

They are young too, Christian Benteke is just 22, Matt Lowton I think the same , and the new lads who have come in have bonded really well with the ones who were already here. It is like they have come through with us to be honest, it's just one big team.

Does that togetherness give you something that you can't buy?

I would like to think so, yes, as a team coming through together everyone is close mates. I think that can help us in the future. I am sure we will all stick together and no matter what happens we will all stay as a group.

Did you imagine at the start of the season you would captain the side?

No, not at all. When a new manager comes in you just want to try to get a place in the team, and that was my only goal.

Are you a vocal captain, do you shout a lot?

I think I do on the pitch, yes, I do sort of bark the orders out and stuff, it is just passing on information really, trying to get everybody communicating. It is not something that has ever changed in my game.

Do you change when you cross the line?

I think so because off the pitch I don't like to go around shouting this and that, I'm not loud, but on the pitch everything does seem to change. It is all about the game then and getting points.

Paul Lambert has said he wants to keep this team together rather than sell players as the club have done before. Is that something you want?

It is very much up to the manager, but you'd like to think it is a great opportunity for the boys to come through. We are all young and all have a number of years ahead of us, so it would be good if we could all stay together and build on that.

How do you respond to people who said this side is too inexperienced?

It's one of those things, people have said we have a young team, all we can do is keep working hard and not care about what people say or think. We concentrate on ourselves, obviously it would be great to get to Wembley in the Capital One Cup but we have a few league games before we even play the semi-final yet, and we need to be thinking about those.

You're playing Chelsea who are some way off the title pace now. Are they still contenders or have United got it wrapped up?

I think it is too early to say. There are so many teams up there who have got tremendous squads, I don't think you can write anybody off.

Is Fernando Torres somebody you have respect for?

Yes, he is starting to find his form now. But it doesn't matter what form he is in, he is always a threat.

It's the start of a busy spell for everybody.

Yes, but the Christmas fixture list is a big part of football. I think everybody looks forward to the games. We have a lot of them in a short space of time and it can make a big difference. A lot can change very quickly so it is important to stay focused through it.

You were at the centre of some criticism for your tackle on Glenn Whelan when you played Stoke a couple of weeks ago?

To be honest I didn't think too much of it. Obviously I caught him slightly but it wasn't anything really. Players on the pitch made a lot more of it that what it actually was. These things happen. You can't let it affect you. I think as a team we have to show, especially because of our size and young age, that we can stand up to things. After all it is still a physical game - although it has to be controlled and done in a sensible way.

Thanks for your time - we've a free 50 bet for a favourite charity.

Great, the cash can go to Villa's Support Stan campaign to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia while our skipper Stiliyan Petrov is fighting the condition . And I'll back Rory McIlory to win the Masters in the new year at 6.86/1.

*Aston Villa and Cure Leukaemia are offering football fans the chance to win unique, oversized boards signed by every Premier League team in support of Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov. To enter the competition and to make your donation eligible for gift aid while helping to fund Cure Leukaemia's excellent work, just text STAN 19 5 to 70070.