LEVI Sutton revealed how tough it has been on the outside looking in at City this season.

The tigerish midfielder has finally regained his spot in the starting line-up for the last two games.

And he intends to fight tooth and nail to hang on to the shirt.

Sutton’s return to the fold for City’s back-to-back wins over Harrogate and Salford were his first starts in the league for nearly four months.

The 25-year-old, a firm favourite with the fans, has faced a challenging campaign.

“Sometimes it’s difficult when you’re running on a Saturday morning and wanting to be part of the squad,” he said.

“You train all week to be involved in something at the end of it. It’s tough when you’re not a part of it but you’ve got to keep your head, work hard and hopefully the manager will see that and play you.

“I like to be back involved. It’s been tough at times but now it’s my shirt to lose.”

There is plenty of competition for places throughout Mark Hughes’ squad and some players on the fringes are expected to be lined up for loan moves during the January window.

Sutton could have been one of those names. He had not kicked a ball for eight games before coming off the bench at Carlisle on Boxing Day.

His last league start prior to Harrogate had been against Walsall on September 3.

But his re-emergence in the midfield diamond that Hughes has switched to suggests he remains very much part of the manager’s thinking.

“I know what I can bring to this team,” added Sutton. “I was probably a little bit sloppy at first but that’s rust from not having played in a long time.

“My fitness levels were probably not where they need to be but I think that will come with more games.

“Fingers crossed, I can play more between now and the end of the season and I can get back to the form of my old self where I felt I was very good.”

Sutton is also setting high standards with home form now as City target a third consecutive Valley Parade victory against Rochdale on Tuesday.

“It’s a big stadium with a lot of fans and people come here and treat it like their cup final, so they up their levels.

“But I think we’ve got enough in this team to be able to win every game at home.

“Obviously it will be hard but that’s the standard we should set ourselves.”