Leon Bailey isn’t concerned about increased competition for places in the Aston Villa squad, insisting that the team's objective always comes first.
Unai Emery signed three new attackers in the winter window by loaning in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio after Donyell Malen joined from Borussia Dortmund for £20m.
Bailey was preferred on the right wing to Jaden Philogene in the first half of the season, before Villa opted to cash in on the former Hull City man.
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But the Jamaica international now faces fresh competition with Rashford and Asensio making impressive starts, while Malen has also caught the eye.
Rashford has made six appearances since joining on loan from Manchester United, and since his debut on February 9, he has created more chances in all competitions than any other Premier League player (13).
Asensio, meanwhile, has scored braces in successive home matches against Chelsea and then Cardiff City in the FA Cup last time out.
Bailey recorded his second assist of the season in the 2-0 win, picking Asensio out to double Villa’s lead on Friday night.
"There's always competition but that's not the most important thing,” Bailey said when asked about Emery’s exciting forward options. “I think the most important thing is being able to play well together.
"It doesn't matter who it is up front and I think that's the main thing that we need to consider, not the competition that's here.
"We know we all have talent and we are all good players and we can contribute. But, at the same time, can you contribute while playing together?
"I think that's something we've been more focused on and so far it's been working and it's good to see. When you play more with the players consistently, people get to know each other better and faster.
“I think it's going well so far and hopefully it can click in every moment that we need it to click.”
Asked if the competition daunts him, Bailey replied: "No, I don't think that's ever the focus. I think that's more so for the media. That's for you guys to think. But honestly, we as the players, we don't think like that.
"We're all on the same team, we all have the same objective and the same goal. For us, as I said before, it's more about gelling together, playing well together.
"Whoever is on the pitch, making sure that the connection is there. Because that's the only way we're going to win the game. Not by trying to compete with your own teammate. We don't think like that.
“The main objective for us is to be able to gel well together. If it's not working for me, we know that we have somebody strong as well to be able to come on and bring a better impact.
"As I said, that's the only way we know how to do it because we want to win games. That's the only way I know."
Villa are now one win away from Wembley and will be pulled out of the hat for the quarter-final draw after Manchester United’s fifth round tie against Fulham on Sunday night.
"Not just for the fans, for the team,” Bailey said about the incentive of heading to Wembley. "It's going to be amazing if we can get it done and we are able to bring the fans, family members, everybody to Wembley.
"But we don't just want to be at Wembley, we want to win at Wembley. That's the focus and that's the challenge in front of us.
"We really want to get a trophy this year. So that's the main target and the main focus for us."
