Nicky Shorey has insisted Villa remain on course to win the UEFA Cup – despite finishing third in their group.

With qualification for the final 32 already assured, Villa manager Martin O’Neill included only three of the starting line-up from the 4-2 weekend win over Bolton.

Defenders Carlos Cuellar and Luke Young, along with midfielder Steve Sidwell – who was sent off – were the only starters.

Villa, who had Sidwell sent off in the closing stages, had to play second fiddle to Martin Jol’s side once Mladen Petric had opened the scoring, paving the way for a double blast from Ivica Olic, before a late consolation from Nathan Delfouneso.

Yet left-back Shorey believes Villa still have nothing to fear – especially when their big guns return.

He said: “It’s a tough competition. There are a lot of games. If you get to the final I think you have done really well.

“We can definitely go all the way but there’s some tough teams out there and it’s going to be difficult.

“It will be straight knockout, you are going to have to come to places like this and do better than we did.

“It’s a plus for everyone we have qualified and at least we will have a chance to give a better account of ourselves.”

It was a first start for Shorey in over a month after falling out of favour under O’Neill. He admitted he was disappointed to see it end in such circumstances.

He said: “It was nice to be back in the team, so it was a shame it didn’t go to plan. They are a good team and it’s a tough competition, we just didn’t cope with it.

“It would have been a tough game even if everyone had played. They took their chances really well, all three were great finishes.”

As for his recent omission, the £4.5million summer arrival admits he is desperate to be back playing regularly.

He said: “All I can do is when I get a chance try and take it. I’m a footballer, I just want to be playing. You’re asking the wrong man if you want answers, that’s not down to me.

“I just want to get back in the team but that’s difficult the way it’s going at the moment.”