Petrov won his 100th cap for Bulgaria during the recent international break and the achievement was honoured by Villa ahead of yesterday's game with Newcastle.

The midfielder is no longer guaranteed an automatic place in the Villa starting line-up with Houllier signing Jean Makoun in January and giving an extended run to Nigel Reo-Coker.

But Petrov was back in the first eleven for the first time in more than two months - apart from an FA Cup tie at Manchester City - against the Magpies.

He earned praise after the game from Houllier and is hoping he can have a greater involvement in the finale to the campaign.

Petrov told Press Association Sport: "It is difficult when you are not playing, not just because I'm the club captain, but because I love playing.

"It's been a frustrating time and it's not been happening for me.

"But you just have to deal with it and try and get back in the team.

"It is down to the manager to decide. He makes the decisions and we just need to stick with them.

"I can only prove him wrong with my game. I feel I have done that. I hope I can keep going now."

Petrov admits ensuring Villa stay in the top flight is the most important thing.

He said: "The main thing is to stay in the top flight because we are in a very difficult position.

"With all the talent that we have got here, and haven't shown this season, we know that we can win games.

"As long as we can keep clean sheets, we know that we have got players who can score goals.

"It was a massive win for us against Newcastle. I'm not going to lie, we know how important the three points were for us.

"We know where we are at the moment and it was massive."

Petrov added: "We have had a frustrating season and when we get the points that make us safe, maybe we will play some more football.

"At the moment it is about getting points and climbing the table.

"It's hard, we've been looking behind our backs for a long time but I hope we get out of it soon."

Newcastle keeper Steve Harper believes injuries and suspensions have taken their toll with Kevin Nolan, Cheick Tiote and Shola Ameobi, who will have a knee scan today, all absent at Villa Park.

He said: "When you take three massive players out of the heart of your team, it is going to be to the detriment of the team.

"To be without Kevin Nolan and Cheick Tiote was massive for us - but losing Shola overnight was one too many.

"Suspensions and injuries are killing us. We knew we had a small squad and that's why last week (against Wolves) was a massive result."

The Magpies entertain Manchester United next Tuesday and Harper is hoping their demanding schedule before that game will take its' toll.

He said: "We've got to hope the two big games, the Champions League game and the FA Cup semi-final, take a lot out of them this week because they are flying in the league.

"It will be a very tough game for us but hopefully they will have two tough games this week and we will have 52,000 roaring us on and a few first choice bodies back out there."