The 21-year-old Australian, who was in the Socceroos preliminary 2010 World Cup squad, joined the Blades on loan for the remainder of the season a fortnight ago.

The Perth-born defender had failed to make one first-team appearance for the Villans this season, despite making the bench on several occasions.

"Obviously it's tough being at a Premiership club with a couple of players in front of you when you're trying to break through," Lowry told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I signed a deal in May towards the end of last season - a two-year-deal - so I'm contracted for another 18 months, but it's always hard and you are just waiting for an opportunity up against players like those.

"These are the types of move you have to make if you want to prove to people that you can play at a higher level."

Since making the loan switch to Bramall Lane, Lowry has played full games in defence for Sheffield United's past two matches.

Lowry, who also spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United last season, clearly hopes his long-term future lies with Villa but knows his loan spell at Bramall Lane will be important to his career.

And the left-sided defender added getting game-time at Sheffield United was crucial to his hopes of playing for the Socceroos, who is yet to debut for.

Lowry featured in several of Pim Verbeek's Socceroos squads but missed out altogether on Holger Osieck's 50-man provisional 2011 Asian Cup squad after seeing no first-team action this season.

"Obviously I want to play for the Australian national team and it's a massive goal of mine," Lowry said.

"I went to the warm-up squad for the World Cup and just missed out on the 23, so obviously my next goal is to get my first international cap and to play for Australia in the near future.

"At the same time my club form is important to that and if I can play well for Sheffield United I might get the recognition to get into the Australian national squad.

"If I push on with my performances at club level then hopefully the international stage will look after itself."

And Lowry hopes to help Sheffield United out of danger after a poor first-half of the campaign has them sitting down in 21st in the Championship.

"At the moment I feel like they are at the wrong end of the table," he said.

"A club like Sheffield United needs to be pushing for the play-offs or automatic promotions. Hopefully I can come in and help them get the results.

"It's important we do that, so hopefully we can all stick together, get a few good results, and get us moving up the table.

"I want to win as many games as possible, hopefully keep a few clean sheets along the way and hopefully put in a few good performances personally."