Socceroo Holman in a tough place Lack of recent playing time for English club Aston Villa has put Socceroos star Brett Holman in a tough place heading into Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Oman. The attacking midfielder has been an essential part of the Socceroo team in recent years, starring at the 2010 World Cup. His strong, intelligent running and attacking instincts make him a major threat to Oman at ANZ Stadium. With just one point separating second-placed Australia from fifth and last-placed Jordan, the Socceroos will be looking to Holman for some attacking inspiration. Holman moved to the English Premier League in the northern summer of 2012 and was a regular in the Villa side for the first half of the season. But he has dropped out of the starting side since the turn of the year. "I think everybody knows that I'm in a tough place now, because I'm not in the side," Holman admitted. Up until Christmas, I was playing almost every game. It was something new, exciting and I think I've adapted okay. Unfortunately, the last couple of months, I haven't been able to get into the side. There was a period when I was sick after Christmas for a week and, after that, there was a change and that happens when a manager chooses someone else. Unfortunately for me, he chose somebody in my position and I was sacrificed, virtually. Holman said he had no idea why he wasn't starting as he hadn't spoken about it to coach Paul Lambert. "I don't want to kick up a storm when there's more important things and that's sticking together as a team and staying up and not getting relegated," Holman said. I'm not the type of player to go up to a manager and say 'what do I have to do?' or 'what is needed?' I just want to do it on the training pitch and work hard and show it that way. While admitting he wasn't as match fit as people playing every week, Holman stressed he had been working hard. "Even though I haven't been playing a lot of games, I've been doing extra training sessions at Villa and that helps," Holman said. Fellow attacker Alex Brosque is in a good vein of form and frame of mind after a strong start at his UAE-based club Al Ain. He has scored nine goals in 16 games as a striker after playing a midfield role at his last club in Japan.