Nahki Wells Reflects On Goal, Season & More
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Nahki Wells believes he is finally showing the Bristol City fans what he can do after scoring his sixth goal of the season yesterday.
Wells struck his fifth goal in as many games in a 2-1 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship, reacting quickest to strike the ball into the net with his left foot in the 61st minute.
Spurred on by City’s supporters chanting his name, the Bermuda striker almost found a leveller with a shot deflected over the bar and then headed wide from the resulting corner.
It is a far cry from last season when Wells was on the periphery of the starting line-up, making just seven league starts with a further 25 appearances off the substitutes’ bench.
Wells signing autographs for young fans after yesterday’s game
“I’m in a good place right now,” Wells told Bernews. “If I’m on the pitch, I feel like I’ll either score or create something.
“I’m very confident I can have a really good season. I don’t see why I can’t score 20 goals.
“It’s not just about goals, it’s about performances and the team doing well, but ultimately goals keep me in the team.”
Wells, who joined City from Burnley in January 2020, admits he struggled to build a rapport with the fans because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in games held behind closed doors and then spent the last campaign out of favour.
Since scoring in his first league start of the season against Luton Town in August, Wells has not looked back, quickly becoming a fans’ favourite in BS3 on the back of his lethal form.
“As crazy as it sounds, I’ve been here for a while and don’t really think the fans know my full potential,” he said.
“The Covid season came, I played out of position for a season and a half, and then didn’t play for a season.
“Two and half years went by, and I wasn’t able to show the club what I’m capable of. I don’t want to leave without showing them that. They have invested a lot of time and money in me.
Wells scoring in yesterday’s match
“I love it here and want to finish strongly. My contract is up at the end of the season, and I want to do as well as I can for the club.”
Although his future was shrouded in uncertainty this summer, Wells said he never sought a move away from the club but admits he could ill afford another season languishing on the bench.
“I never wanted to leave,” he told Bernews. “[At one point], I felt like I had to from a football perspective, but I was patient, professional, and kept my mentality right.
“In the past, I was given chances but wasn’t able to take them. Thankfully I was in the right place at the right time against Luton, scored a goal, and it’s been the start of something good. Long may it continue.”
