Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Ken McNaught reckons Paul Lambert would be crazy to even consider splitting up defensive duo Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark.

The former Aston Villa stopper also believes it would be a risky decision to play three at the back just to accommodate club captain Ron Vlaar.

Clark and Okore have formed a blossoming relationship in the heart of defence leaving Vlaar unsure of his place in the team following a lengthy injury spell.

Lambert has a tough call to make ahead of Saturday’s clash with Manchester United and McNaught feels the best option would be to leave things the way they are.

“Unless they are working on it day in day out, I don’t think it is a good idea to change the system,” said the Holte End hero.

“I wouldn’t mess about with it when it seems to be working perfectly fine as it is.

“You shouldn’t have to try and accommodate a player into a position if someone else is already performing well in that role.

“I think Okore and Clark have done very well.

“They are both strong and in good form and more importantly they look like they’re forming a decent partnership.

“They look like they’re enjoying playing together,”

McNaught - one of Villa’s finest centre halves - also believes it would be incredibly harsh on either player if they were to be dropped this weekend.

“It’s one of the things you hate as a player if the manager drops you when you’re playing well,” he said.

“You take it personally and then you have to be very professional to get your head down and be ready when you’re called upon again.

“It’s difficult because Vlaar is the captain and obviously a very good defender.

PICTURES - West Brom v Villa: The fans:

“But the two lads have done nothing wrong.

“They were put under pressure to perform when they came into the team and they stood up to it.

“What helps is they’re both hungry to succeed.

“Clark came through as one of the kids with a lot of promise but he maybe hasn’t progressed as much as he would have liked.

For more Villa stories, click below to like our Aston Villa Facebook page

“He’ll be determined to stay in the side now he’s been given another chance.

“As for Okore, you have to say fair play to him because that injury could have finished him.

“If it had happened in my day it would have been career over.”

The pair are looking to make their sixth consecutive start in the Villa Park clash.