Nahki Wells On Pre-Season, Starting & More
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Nahki Wells hopes to force his way into Bristol City’s starting line-up for their Sky Bet Championship opener away to Hull City next weekend after impressing in pre-season.
Wells grabbed a late winner in City’s 1-0 victory away to Plymouth Argyle last Saturday and created both goals in his side’s 2-2 draw at home to Exeter City on Tuesday.
The Bermudian knows he can ill afford another season languishing on the substitutes’ bench, having started just seven league matches last term.
He still faces a slightly uncertain future at Ashton Gate as he enters the final year of his contract but believes he can be City’s leading scorer if handed opportunities this season.
“For me, nothing changes. Last season I wasn’t given many opportunities, but when I was, I wasn’t able to solidify my spot,” Wells told Bristol Live.
“I thought I played well at times, but small things like taking a chance or scoring a goal – the things make that difference – I wasn’t able to do that.
“I know I can score goals; I know that’s what I’m out there to do, and if I get them, I need to take them because that’s what makes the difference.
“[Manager Nigel Pearson has said] nothing significant apart from that he’s happy to have me here, my plan is to keep my head down and work hard, I’ve got another year’s contract, and I feel I’m more than capable of being our top scorer, our main number nine but I have to prove that when I get my chances.”
Wells is in contention to play alongside Chris Martin in the absence of first-choice striker Antoine Semenyo, who will miss the start of the campaign because of a shin injury.
“I didn’t play as much with him [Martin] last season because I didn’t play as much football as I wanted to, but me and Chris had a good partnership when he first came in under Dean Holden for the first half of the season, so we know how to play together,” Wells added.
“If we’re called upon on July 30 [against Hull], my plan is to be the best I can and work well together if that’s the partnership he chooses at the start of the season. Who knows, that’s up to him, but I will try to do my part.
“I think we can cover most areas as forwards together. I think he’s intelligent, and I think that allows me to use my brain to pick up different positions and try to get myself in goal-scoring positions.”
