Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admits he's delighted with the form of Chris Baird this season.

After a difficult start to life at Fulham during the 2007/08 season Baird is certainly enjoying a campaign to remember this year.

"I think he's got a lot of competition for that place, he knows that," Hodgson told fulhamfc.com. "The fact that he's a utility man gives him more chance of playing than if he only had one position he could play in.

"At the moment, since he's come into that role he's done extremely well alongside Jonathan Greening and Danny Murphy. Now he's making it harder for Dickson Etuhu and Kagisho Dikgacoi to break into the Team.

"We've used a lot of players this year," Hodgson continued. "There are a lot of players taking part who hardly got a look in last year. We've needed the squad and with all the games we've got, we're still going to need them. Whilst people like Chris Baird are playing so well it's a great advantage for me because I know that I've got good players battering the door down to get into the Team."