Nicky Shorey has been backed to get his career back on track at Nottingham Forest – by the man who has replaced him in the Villa team.

Left-back Shorey has joined the Championship club on a month’s loan after being pushed down the pecking order at Villa Park since the arrival of Stephen Warnock from Blackburn in August.

The £8million signing has sympathy having been in a similar situation at Liverpool, but warns that is the nature of football.

Warnock said: “Of course, I feel a little bit of sympathy for Nicky but I’ve been in that situation myself. When I was at Liverpool there were people coming in in front of me and you don’t know what to do.

“But it’s football, there’s always another chance that will come along where you can get your place. I am sure that will be the same for Nicky, but I can only be selfish and think of myself.”

Warnock expects the former Reading man to return to Villa even more determined to win the claret and blue shirt back.

He added: “When you’ve got competition it keeps your performance level up. Nicky’s a very good player, but he’s not got to where he is from lying down and accepting what’s going to happen.”