Jlloyd Samuel's Tough Task

Villa left-back Jlloyd Samuel has conceded he'll have a hard task to get his place back now he has recovered from his thigh injury because the defence is doing so well.

He told his icons site: 'I have got two personal challenges at the moment; things are going well with the team, so not only do I have to get myself fit, I also have to get myself back in contention for a place in the side. The back four's record has been good recently - the last three Premiership games have been clean sheets which makes me feel like I have to work even harder to get back in the team.'

'But once things are going well, there is no need to change, which is fair enough. I can't argue with that. I will show the manager what I can do though, I'm really enjoying my football again, and I am committed. I just want to get in the first team as quickly as possible.'

Adding: 'It is so nice to be playing football again! I have played two games for the reserves now; one last week against Watford and again this week against Spurs. I played 90 minutes in both games. I was delighted to play for that long. The more football I get, the better. Martin O'Neill goes to watch all the reserve games. I haven't had that much feedback since I've come back, but Martin is a thinking man; he has been spectating and keeping his thoughts to himself about how we are playing. I'm sure that when he's ready to tell me what he thinks, he will.'

He also says he is 'getting there' on the fitness front, 'I have been training with the first team for the last two weeks though. It has been a long road back to recovery and I am certainly appreciating being back.'

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