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

Aston Villa defender Mitch Clark got 45 minutes under his belt as Villa’s under 23s succumbed to a 3-2 defeat at Stoke City U23s on Monday night.

Clark, on loan at Port Vale, was handed a first-half run out as he looks to build his fitness back up following the hamstring injury he suffered at the end of last month in Vale’s 1-0 defeat to Swindon.

He made his return over the weekend in the draw with Cheltenham Town, having spent the meantime back at Bodymoor Heath working his way back to fitness.

Watch: What his former gaffer had to say

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Centre-half Clark, who has played a single match for the Villa first team - that being the 4-1 win over Wigan in the EFL Cup last season - has impressed at Vale Park this term.

He is permitted to play for Villa’s U23s, however, throughout the duration of his loan spell with the Valiants.

“Players on loan can play for their parent club in non first-team games and the Potters clash gave Clark the perfect opportunity to up his levels ahead of the festive period for Port Vale,” Villa stated.

Clark, who has played 21 times for Vale this term and is likely to get back into the first team reckoning during the Christmas schedule.

He was watched at the home of Stafford Rangers by first-team boss Dean Smith. Smith, who inherited his squad from Steve Bruce, has only Axel Tuanzebe and James Chester at his disposal at centre back and has the option of recalling Clark from his loan next month.

Villa fought back from two goals down in the encounter thanks to goals from Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Jacob Ramsey, but they were undone in the final ten minutes.

Jacob Bedeau, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Callum O’Hare and Keinan Davis also featured.