HARD-done-by Carlos Cuellar has been reassured he still has a part to play at Villa – despite struggling to break into one of the Premier League’s worst defences.

Cuellar has endured another frustrating season warming the bench with Richard Dunne and James Collins preferred in the centre.

The Spaniard has been restricted to ten league starts and two substitute appearances despite Villa conceding 58 goals – the sixth-worst record in the top flight.

Cuellar has experienced a stop-start career since signing from Rangers for £7.8 million in August 2008 and has just over a year left on his contract.

The 29-year-old defender has been a paragon of patience and despite reported interest from Spanish clubs, recently revealed on Twitter he wants to stay at Villa.

Caretaker boss Gary McAllister described Cuellar as a “model professional” and suggested the former Osasuna player would eventually get another first-team chance.

Dunne and Collins have formed a regular partnership but Villa also have Cuellar and young defenders Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker challenging for a central role.

“Carlos has been working fantastically well,” said McAllister.

“But the facts are we’ve had a wee run of results.

“People warranted keeping the jersey but it’s very competitive, that’s just the way it is.

“We can’t pick 20 players, but the players that are not in the team have got to continue to put pressure on those that are. That’s what makes a good football club.

“We have five or six centre- halves at the club and the decision is to pick two.”