Midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has insisted he will not be looking to quit Aston Villa after losing his first-team spot.

The Bulgaria international was taken off at half-time against Newcastle last month and then left out of the side for the games against Reading and Arsenal.

Petrov has struggled to produce the form that persuaded Villa manager Martin O'Neill to pay Celtic £6million for his services in the summer of 2006.

But he is determined to fight to regain his place rather than ask for a move.

Petrov said: "I haven't produced my best form for Villa but I haven't been complaining. I just get on with things and the manager picks the team. But I will be back playing for Villa.

"Sometimes it doesn't go well for you but you still do your best for your team-mates and that's the way I'll carry on. I'll never give up. A few people have said to me 'what do I want to do'?

"But I'm not the sort of person who is a quitter and I'm not thinking about a transfer.

"I'll carry on working hard on the training ground and if my chance comes then I'll try to take it. You can always ask people to do more and that's what we're all striving to do."

Petrov admits serious injuries to three Villa players — first-teamer Curtis Davies and reserves Stephen O'Hallaran and Jonathan Hogg — have helped him to
keep things in perspective over his exclusion from the team.

Davies has a ruptured Achilles while O'Hallaran and Hogg have suffered severe knee injuries.

Petrov said: "Three of my colleagues picked up serious injuries last week and it's going to be a long road ahead for them as they look to recover.

"I wish all three of them the best. Seeing these lads injured makes me feel lucky I'm fit and well. As I look to recover my form, I should be thankful I've had it so lucky."

Zat Knight is in line to replace Davies and start his first game of 2008 alongside Martin Laursen in Wednesday's home Barclays Premier League clash with Middlesbrough.

Knight was a regular member of the side during the first half of the season but lost his place to Davies in late December while he served a suspension and was unable to force his way back into the starting XI.

Defender Olof Mellberg (ankle) and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker (back) are also likely to be in contention to face former Villa player Gareth Southgate's side.