Villa skipper Ciaran Clark admits Martin O'Neill's support has boosted the Young Lions as they bid for silverware this season.

O'Neill will be at Villa Park tonight for the FA Youth Cup clash with Chelsea and even flew back from a Spanish training camp for the quarter-final trip to Carlisle.

That support has been greatly appreciated by the Academy staff and their young charges. Clark explained: "It's been great to see the Manager at the games too. He's been down in the dressing room and giving us encouragement, so that's been massive for us.

"When you have the first team manager coming down and supporting you, it's all a good experience and it all helps my performance as well, especially as all the other lads have been doing so well."

Clark, who also captains England at Under-19 level, is enjoying a successful season. The 18-year-old central defender added: "I'm still in my second year as a full time player and with the Youth Cup run that we've had, it's been a busy season.

"I've been pleased with things at Villa though, the lads have been playing really well, for the youth team and the reserve team.

"The youth team are top of the league and so are the reserves, so it has been a good season so far. Hopefully, it will all go well tonight and we can do the job against Chelsea and push on to the Final."