Nathan Delfouneso has set his sights on stepping out of the shadows to make five Premier League starts for Aston Villa this season, reports the Birmingham Mail. Delfouneso has yet to be handed his full top-flight debut by boss Martin O'Neill and has been restricted to cameo appearances from the bench.

"I just want to get in the team and play more," said the 18 year old, who agreed a contract extension earlier this month.

"I want to become a regular. That's my next goal.

"It would be my main target to get my first Premier League start and after that it's got to be my aim to try to start at least five Premier League games this season."

And the England Under-19 international is convinced he will continue to progress at Villa Park after pledging his future to the club until the summer of 2012.

"I'm happy to have got a new deal," said Delfouneso, who has made substitute appearances against Wigan and Bolton in the league this season.

"Hopefully it's the start of what I want to be trying to achieve and I can move on from here.

"The gaffer has seen enough in me to offer me a contract and wants to look at it and hopefully put me in the team and take it from there.

"I've learned loads since I was 16 or 17 and I first started to train and to travel with the team. Hopefully I can learn even more as I go along."