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 signed him from Rangers 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 niggles.

But during the current campaign Cuellar has impressed at right-back and latterly in his preferred role of central defender.

O'Neill described Cuellar's performance as "outstanding" during Saturday's 1-1 draw with visiting 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 Championship 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."

Cuellar conceded Spurs were worth a share of the spoils after their second half fightback at Villa Park, but believes Martin O'Neill's side can secure a Champions League spot.

He said: "The game was of a very good good quality. In the first half we were better and in the second half they played better than us.

"I think a point is good for both sides. It was frustrating we couldn't hold on for the three points but it was very difficult because we had to defend a lot of the time.

"But our confidence is high and we are making good progress. We are fighting for the top four and have the squad who can achieve that."

Dawson believes the disappointment at not returning home from Villa without a victory shows how far Spurs have progressed.

And he is hoping to cement a place back in the side after injuries to Ledley King (knee) and now Jonathan Woodgate (groin) have left the door open at the heart of the back four alongside Sebastien Bassong.

He said: "We've got to give Villa an awful lot of credit for the way they defended and they got their bodies in front of everything and you think 'is it going to be one of those days?'

"It was important for us to get a result and to go away disappointed not to get all three points shows how far we have come and we are striving for that top four.

"We want to finish in the top four, simple as that. There are other teams - Villa, Manchester City, with the same aspirations, and you've got to work hard at what you do."

Regarding his own situation, Dawson said: "I'm a footballer, I want to play football. It's as simple as that. When you've got Ledley, Woody, Sebastien, it's a good centre-half selection for the manager.

"I got my chance last week, and we won 9-1, we drew one all this week, and hopefully he (Harry Redknapp) picks me next week.

"Ledley and Woody are both England internationals, Sebastien is an international - and I want to be one. It has been hard (not to play much) but, when you get a chance, you've got to make sure you do well."