Soccer:Ciaran Clark admits he has to play regularly for Aston Villa side to guarantee being part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 finals.

Utility player Clark, who can play in defence or midfield, has recently regained his Villa spot in a holding role in the centre of the park. He is desperate to be part of the Irish squad in Poland and Ukraine and knows he has to impress at club level during the second half of the current campaign.

Clark said: “I’d like to keep getting into the Villa team because that is the only way I am going to get into the team to make the European Championships in the summer. I know if I play games then I will hopefully get a chance to go.

“It would be a massive experience for me to go to Euro 2012 but I haven’t been picked in the last few squads. I hadn’t really been playing for Villa but, now I’m getting a few games, it would be nice to think I’ve got a chance for the summer. I won’t give up on it and hopefully I’ll show I’m good enough.”