IT’S A LONG way from the Midlands to Malahide but the shadow cast by Aston Villa’s league form could be felt in Dublin yesterday.

Tonight Ciaran Clark takes a break from the battle for Premier League survival to join an Irish defence that is part necessity, part invention on the part of Giovanni Trapattoni.

By the time next month’s qualifiers against Sweden and Austria come around, Trapattoni should have Seamus Coleman and Sean St Ledger back from injury. The Italian also remained positive this week when questioned on the prospects of Richard Dunne making the plane to Stockholm.

But for now Paul McShane slots back in at right full to win his 29th senior cap while Greg Cunningham, last seen in an Irish jersey back in November 2010 when he was still on Manchester City’s books, gets his long-awaited chance to impress Trap again.

Alongside Clark at the heart of it all is the experienced head of captain John O’Shea. Though he’s fortunate enough to have dodged relegation struggles like Villa’s in his career, he knows his young partner well enough to be confident in his mental fortitude.

“I’m sure Clarkey might have been glad of the little break away,” O’Shea said at yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

I know from the type of player he is from when he first came into the squad. Clarkey’s very strong mentally.

“Aston Villa have quite a young squad at the minute and if they can survive this season, they’ll get fantastic strength from it. They’ll get fantastic belief from it. Clarkey will be a part of that and it will be of benefit to us.”

Though he’s only 23 himself, Clark is practically an old hand in a Villa defence which has seen youngsters Matthew Lowton, Joe Bennett, Nathan Baker and ex-Shamrock Rovers man Enda Stevens get plenty of game time.

Without Dunne there to hold it all together, O’Shea has been very impressed by Clark’s leadership.

Believe me, he’s a very wise head on young shoulders and while Villa have been having a tough time, he’s been trying to lead as much as he can. For a young players to do that at the back, it’s quite tough so he’ll be getting great experience from it.”

It’s important as a back four that we deal with things together. Clarkey will be helping Greg out, settling Greg in, and I’ll be helping Mac out on the right side. As a unit we have to work together.

That unit also includes a relatively unfamilar face in Millwall keeper David Forde, 33, who starts again after winning just his fourth senior cap in the November friendly against Greece.

Forde’s inclusion comes at the expense of O’Shea’s Sunderland team-mate Kieren Westwood who has only played three Capital One Cup games this season — and not a minute of first team football since October — since he was ousted by Simon Mignolet.

With next month’s qualifiers very much on Trapattoni’s mind, a solid performance tonight could see Forde installed as Ireland’s new number one.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Fordey,” O’Shea said. “I know from Westy’s experience he’s so frustrated at the minute but the competition is fierce between the two of them.

“Fordey’s playing at his club which is a big help at the minute. We have every confidence he’ll be very good. He’s very experienced and he’ll do very well.”

Sink or swim as Trap picks Sammon to lead Ireland’s line