RICHARD Dunne reckons rookie defender Ciaran Clark can become Villa’s “main man” for years to come despite his first Premier League start of the season ending in defeat.

Clark replaced James Collins in central defence for Saturday’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, when the claret and blues’ unbeaten league run was trampled on by Manchester City.

The 22-year-old faces a battle to keep his shirt for this weekend’s Villa Park derby against West Brom with Collins targeting a return after foot and groin trouble.

But Dunne has advised Clark to bide his time and warned his fellow Irish international he might have to settle for dipping in and out of the team before he becomes a regular.

“Ciaran just has to be patient this year,” said Dunne. “He is a great lad and is going to be a brilliant player, but he is still young, especially for a centre-back.

“Last year he played a lot of games in midfield and at left-back but I think he wants to be a centre-back. He had a couple of injuries over the summer but it just takes time to develop sometimes.

“Ciaran will get games and I’m certain he’ll become a regular at Villa soon enough, so he has to be patient. Maybe ten or 15 games might just be enough for him in the learning process this season.

“Eventually he will take over and become the main man at the back. He will kick on with Ireland as well. The lads who are playing at the moment have played a lot of games and Ciaran is still at the stage where he is learning.

“But it will come to him at some point and I’m sure he will be back in the Ireland squad soon enough.”

Clark has also received encouraging words from another of the club’s senior centre-halves, Carlos Cuellar, who was in Alex McLeish’s matchday squad for the first time on Saturday.