Jonathan Hogg has a hero's example

Jonathan Hogg faces a battle to become a first-team regular at Villa but, like his hero Roy Keane, the tough-tackling midfielder would not have it any other way.

Having broken into the senior ranks this season, Hogg has taken his chance in the absence of a number of more experienced players who have been out injured.

Hogg has impressed manager Gerard Houllier during a run in the side and is in line to start in central midfield for tomorrow's trip to the DW Stadium.

But with Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell and Fabian Delph all on the comeback trail, Hogg knows he must not let his performances level drop against the Latics if he is to remain in the side.

He said: "It will be a fight for my place, but I'm there and ready for it and I'll hopefully be able to keep my spot in the team.

"Every game you just have to put your best into it. Whether you are doing different jobs - scoring goals or tackling - you just have got to give it your best shot and play for the team.

"Just to keep playing in the Premier League and playing as many games as I can for Aston Villa is my aim for now.

"To play in front of as many fans as we do week-in week-out is great. Results haven't always gone our way but we're positive and working hard as we can, so hopefully they will come.

"It's big difference from playing on loan with Darlington in League Two to going to play in the Premier League against the best teams.

"To play against big teams like Liverpool, Manchester United and a big derby against Blues in front of 30,000 to 40,000 people every week is massive."

Former Manchester United hardman Keane always gave the impression he had something to prove - be it to fans, players, managers or usually just himself - and Hogg is cut from a similar cloth.

Undoubtedly he is a little more amicable off the pitch, but his team-mates and opponents will testify that he possess the same tenacity and determination as the Irishman on it.

The 22-year-old midfielder's tackling packs a punch and he seems to genuinely relish the physical side of the game as shown by his all-action performance in the win over Albion.

He said: "Tackling is an art form. Obviously not all the players do like tackling but it's one of my strong points so I've got to keep doing it and doing it for the team.

"I used to love watching football when I was a kid but I didn't know what I was really good at then. Now all the boys call me 'Cats' after Lee Cattermole but it's just a bit of banter.

"But it was Roy Keane who was one of my heroes. I loved watching him play and with his aggression he was brilliant to watch

"I'd love to go on and follow him. To win the games and the trophies and the medals he has, I'd be happy to achieve half of what he has."

Hogg's attitude has also impressed Houllier, who wasted little time in ensuring the youngster committed his future to the claret and blues and signed a new deal until 2013.

His recent spell in the starting line-up has also made Hogg feel very much part of the first team rather than just a player who trained with the seniors.

He said: "I started training with them most of last year regularly and obviously most of this year and it's been good.

"I'm starting to feel part of the first-team squad now. Once you're in there you don't want to think 'yeah, I'm in' and stop there. I want to keep going and pressing on.

"Once you have been playing you get a taste of it and you just want to keep going and looking forward to the next game.

"If the opportunity is there then the gaffer will play you. I've not set any targets, the more games I play the better for me.

"I don't necessarily look at the fixture list. I just prepare for the next game and look forward to that.

"I've started about five or six games now. Obviously at the start of the season when I played in Vienna I didn't think I'd be playing the Premier League, Carling Cup and Europa League in one season, so I am a bit surprised.

"But I'm loving every minute of it."