Port Vale loanee makes surprise appearance for Aston Villa U-23s | OneFootball

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith was in attendance on Monday night to watch 19-year-old on-loan centre-back Mitch Clark in action with the Villa U-23s.

Clark is on a season-long loan with League Two’s Port Vale, however, rules state that on-loan players can play friendly and reserve matches with their parent club.

Clark has made 21 appearances for Port Vale this season and is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered on 24 November in a 1-0 loss to Swindon.

Though Clark came on as a 62nd-minute substitute in Port Vale’s 2-2 draw with Cheltenham, Aston Villa recalled him to give him match fitness.

Though Clark’s loan is for the full season, Smith has the ability to recall him in January, which is now considered a possibility as Axel Tuanzebe and James Chester are the only healthy recognised centre-backs that Villa currently have at their disposal.

Clark played the first 45 minutes as Stoke City U-23s defeated Villa’s U-23s 3-2, with Stoke ahead 2-0 at half-time.