Scott Hogan tells Steve Bruce to cancel January striker search after firing Aston Villa past Nottingham Forest

Hogan netted for the second Championship game in succession to earn promotion-chasing Villa a third league win on the spin.

Bruce, who expects Jonathan Kodjia to miss the rest of the season through injury, is trying to add reinforcements on the forward line and has approached Leicester City about taking Leonardo Ulloa on loan.

But with his own confidence now returning after a difficult first year at Villa Park, Hogan believes the boss might be wasting his time.

He said: “I will tell the manager ‘don’t bother’.

“If you want to go and get someone, go on. But he isn’t going to play because I will keep my place. I’m not giving it up now.”

Hogan, who joined Villa in a £12million move from Brentford last January, did not get off the mark in the Championship this season until netting in a 5-0 win over Bristol City on New Year’s Day. The 25-year-old made it two in two when he headed home Robert Snodgrass’s cross 18 minutes into Saturday’s game.

He added: “I have sat on the bench and it has not gone as well as everyone hoped. The manager will tell you that. He is probably a bit disappointed. Rightly so, because I am as well.

“At the end of the day he can do what he wants (in the market) but I can only think of myself. If I continue to work hard off the ball then I will play and I know I will.

“If people want to buy, sell or talk about things, then so be it. I am just concentrating on myself. I will get the goals, I know I will. Hopefully, if they do bring someone in, they won’t need them.”

Hogan earned his big money move to Villa after firing 15 goals in the first half of last season for Brentford.

The former Rochdale striker started his career in non-league football and insists maintaining a bullish, confident attitude is imperative if he is to flourish at Villa Park.

“Away from football I am really shy and quiet. My Mrs tells me all the time I am too quiet,” he said.

“But in football, they more you convince yourself the more you believe it. You have to. You have to keep telling yourself, you are here for a reason.

“I know what I am good at. I have done it all my career. I have scored goals wherever I have been and the stats back that up.

“You have to keep doing it and convincing yourself. You have to tell yourself you are the best because otherwise you are no going to aspire to anything.

“You are not going to get out of bed in the morning and work hard if you don’t believe you have the ability. You have to front up, regardless of what type of character you are."

He added: "People say what they want and are well within the rights to. I have never played for a big, big club before. This is my first time. I have not helped myself sometimes, in the way I have performed.

"I believe I can do it and lo-and-behold, it is starting to come good.”