'Outstanding' Cuellar hopes to land World Cup berth

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 21:48

FORMER Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar is hoping to win a place in Spain's World Cup squad after starting to realise his full potential with Aston Villa.

Cuellar had been voted as Scotland's Player Of The Year when Villa manager Martin O'Neill lured him from Ibrox at the start of last season. He took time to adjust to life south of the border and was not helped by a series of injury problems.

But during the current campaign Cuellar has impressed at right-back and latterly in his preferred role of centre-half. O'Neill described Cuellar's performance as "outstanding" during Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham. He set up the Villa goal for Gabriel Agbonlahor – his eighth of the campaign – and played a major role in helping his side to survive a second-half onslaught from Spurs until skipper Michael Dawson's late equaliser.

But 28-year-old Cuellar also has his sights on clinching a place in the Spanish squad which will be heading for South Africa next summer as one of the tournament favourites.

He said: "Everyone in Spain seems to be saying I will be going to the finals. That's what I keep hearing on television and radio and reading in the newspapers.

"But I know it is going to be very hard to get into the national team because they keep winning. They won the European Championships in 2008 and they still are a very good team.

"Most of the players are from big clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia so it will be difficult. But I believe I still have a chance and I'm working hard to try and get into the team. What matters is the final list of players put together by the national coach."

Cuellar insists injuries rather than having to adjust from the Scottish Premier League to top flight football in England was the reason for him taking time to live up to his potential at Villa.

He said: "The Premier League in England is stronger than the Scottish League but, before that, I was playing in the Spanish League which has really good players.

"The problem last year was I had too many injuries. Now I am really happy to be playing. This year I am feeling strong and playing better than last year. I feel comfortable at centre-half but the most important thing is to play every game and to try and help the team."