JUNIOR Hoilett is expecting a battle on his hands to get back in Blackburn Rovers’ team after ruling himself out for tomorrow’s Premier League visit to Aston Villa.

The 20-year-old Canadian sensation has been Rovers’ form player over the last couple of months but will miss the trip to Villa Park with a hamstring injury suffered in the home draw with Newcastle.

Hoilett, who has excelled on the wing and just behind the strikers, expects to return to training early next week in time to be back in contention for the trip to Fulham but knows the intense midfield competition means he can take nothing for granted.

With the likes of Brett Emerton, David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Martin Olsson all pushing for wide roles and the imminent inclusion in the squad of new boys Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina, Hoilett knows the battle for places has never been tougher.

He said: “The injury is going well but I don’t think I will make it this weekend, I will hopefully start training next week and be back in contention for the game at Fulham.

“I had a slight problem with my hamstring but it hasn’t been that serious and is recovering well. I have been on good form but hopefully i can come back even better.

“There is real competition in the squad at the moment. YoU just have to keep his head down and keep fighting and when you get your chance you take it.

“The new lads have been doing well, played against Everton, so it is good.”

Rovers travel to the Midlands tomorrow without a win in four games as they sit 11th in the Premier League table, five points away from the danger zone and seven points off seventh.

Hoilett though insists their complete focus is on earning another top half finish and believes the talent and confidence in the squad can make that happen.

“It was not the best of games from us against Newcastle but we still got the point and that is the main thing that counts,” said Hoilett. “It is important to get the three points against Aston Villa and Fulham to get us pushing up the table. We want to finish in the top half of the table.

“We have been unlucky in a number of games but the confidence is still good in the changing rooms and we are looking forward to the next two games.

“We are looking forward to getting the points again and pushing us into the top half where we can hopefully push for Europe.

“We don’ think about below us. Everyone has confidence, we have a good team, good players and good staff and we have been playing well.

“We just have to do the right things and we will get the points. We aren’t thinking the bottom of the table. We want to finish as high as we can and want to do better than we did last season.”