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Jay Spearing is not afraid of competition for places in the Wanderers midfield and is fully focused on regaining a place in the starting XI.
A slight hamstring problem has been troubling the skipper in recent games and since being withdrawn at half time in the defeat at Norwich, he has had to settle for a place on the bench and two substitute appearances – the last for just a few minutes at the end of Friday's 3-1 derby win against Wigan.
But the 25-year-old accepts the challenge of earning his place in Neil Lennon's team.
And he says being club captain does not guarantee his spot in the side.
Spearing told the club: "Everyone knows they have to keep working hard and contribute to the team's cause to keep their place in the side.
"Nobody is guaranteed a place and the new manager has made that clear.
"Competition for places is nothing new to me – I had it at Liverpool.
"I have the exact same attitude and mentality preparing for games here as I did at Liverpool.
"It doesn't matter that I have the armband, that doesn't guarantee that I'm going to be starting games every week.
"I have to perform in both training and in games, and fingers crossed if I keep doing that then I will make it hard for the gaffer."
Spearing reached a century of appearances for the Whites in the recent home game against Brentford, something he admits filled him with immense pride.
The tough-tackling midfielder says his time at the club since signing on loan originally in August 2012 has flown by.
And despite the on-field struggles by the team in that time, he has enjoyed wearing the Wanderers shirt.
He added: "It's an honour to play for this football club and to wear the armband.
"I knew about the club before I came here and it is still a huge name in the English game.
"My time at the club has flown by – I can't believe I have made 100 appearances already
"I've been quite fortunate to avoid any injuries so I guess to reach it so quickly shows I'm doing a good job on the pitch."
Spearing is now one of the longest serving players at the club.
As he moves past the 150-game mark in his professional career, he admits he is loving life as much as ever under new boss Lennon and believes the feeling among his team-mates is the same.
Spearing added: "He has given everyone a massive boost and everyone seems to be kicking on.
"He's let the reins off us and is letting us express ourselves more on the pitch.
"We're looking to get on the front foot in games and to get in opposing team's faces and that's what his team is all about.
"You can see what he's brought to us when you look at the likes of Chungy, Dannsy and Sparky.
"But we've all had a lift from him.
"The tempo in training has been very good of late.
"The lads are very much enjoying the sessions that the manager and his backroom team are putting on while a number of the younger lads are pushing some of the senior pros all the way."
The improved mood has certainly translated onto the field with four wins from six games since Lennon took the reins.
And the skipper hopes it is just the start of better times for both himself, the club and the loyal supporters.
He said: "We have shown in periods over recent games that we are a good side.
"The challenge for us is to now do that on a regular basis.
"We know we still have a lot of work to do.
"We know we have to do better.
"This is a very competitive division and regardless of who we play, games are always going to be tough.
"It's time for us to push on under the new gaffer.
"I want to take this club places with the top flight the aim.
"Our support over the last few games has been great.
"A lot of the talk in the dressing room has been about the different atmosphere about the place.
"We want to be back challenging for promotion at the top of the table.
"It's where this club and our supporters deserve to be and it is now up to us to make sure that happens."
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A slight hamstring problem has been troubling the skipper in recent games and since being withdrawn at half time in the defeat at Norwich, he has had to settle for a place on the bench and two substitute appearances – the last for just a few minutes at the end of Friday's 3-1 derby win against Wigan.
But the 25-year-old accepts the challenge of earning his place in Neil Lennon's team.
And he says being club captain does not guarantee his spot in the side.
Spearing told the club: "Everyone knows they have to keep working hard and contribute to the team's cause to keep their place in the side.
"Nobody is guaranteed a place and the new manager has made that clear.
"Competition for places is nothing new to me – I had it at Liverpool.
"I have the exact same attitude and mentality preparing for games here as I did at Liverpool.
"It doesn't matter that I have the armband, that doesn't guarantee that I'm going to be starting games every week.
"I have to perform in both training and in games, and fingers crossed if I keep doing that then I will make it hard for the gaffer."
Spearing reached a century of appearances for the Whites in the recent home game against Brentford, something he admits filled him with immense pride.
The tough-tackling midfielder says his time at the club since signing on loan originally in August 2012 has flown by.
And despite the on-field struggles by the team in that time, he has enjoyed wearing the Wanderers shirt.
He added: "It's an honour to play for this football club and to wear the armband.
"I knew about the club before I came here and it is still a huge name in the English game.
"My time at the club has flown by – I can't believe I have made 100 appearances already
"I've been quite fortunate to avoid any injuries so I guess to reach it so quickly shows I'm doing a good job on the pitch."
Spearing is now one of the longest serving players at the club.
As he moves past the 150-game mark in his professional career, he admits he is loving life as much as ever under new boss Lennon and believes the feeling among his team-mates is the same.
Spearing added: "He has given everyone a massive boost and everyone seems to be kicking on.
"He's let the reins off us and is letting us express ourselves more on the pitch.
"We're looking to get on the front foot in games and to get in opposing team's faces and that's what his team is all about.
"You can see what he's brought to us when you look at the likes of Chungy, Dannsy and Sparky.
"But we've all had a lift from him.
"The tempo in training has been very good of late.
"The lads are very much enjoying the sessions that the manager and his backroom team are putting on while a number of the younger lads are pushing some of the senior pros all the way."
The improved mood has certainly translated onto the field with four wins from six games since Lennon took the reins.
And the skipper hopes it is just the start of better times for both himself, the club and the loyal supporters.
He said: "We have shown in periods over recent games that we are a good side.
"The challenge for us is to now do that on a regular basis.
"We know we still have a lot of work to do.
"We know we have to do better.
"This is a very competitive division and regardless of who we play, games are always going to be tough.
"It's time for us to push on under the new gaffer.
"I want to take this club places with the top flight the aim.
"Our support over the last few games has been great.
"A lot of the talk in the dressing room has been about the different atmosphere about the place.
"We want to be back challenging for promotion at the top of the table.
"It's where this club and our supporters deserve to be and it is now up to us to make sure that happens."
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