Mentally tough Bermuda captain Nahki Wells says he is happy to be playing regularly again for English Championship side Bristol City having already doubled his goal tally from the previous campaign.
After spending a frustrating time on the bench last season – making just nine starts and scoring three goals in all competitions – the 32-year-old striker has been rewarded for his hard work with six goals this season, including a consolation effort at the weekend in a 2-1 defeat at home to Queen’s Park Rangers, where he enjoyed two earlier productive loan spells.
“I am just really happy to be playing regularly and to have a big part and huge significance in our team at the moment, which has not been the case for quite some time,” Wells, now in the final year of his three-and-a-half-year contract at Ashton Gate, told Bermuda’s Royal Gazette newspaper.
“I am happy to be reaping the benefits of the hard work and staying mentally ready and focused, so when I did get a chance I was able to take it this season. That was my mentality coming into this season, it was a do-or-die attitude.
“I thought I had a relatively decent pre-season but it wasn’t the best. It was OK and I didn’t really start the season in the team like I wanted to.
“It felt like things were starting to go the same way, but we didn’t start great as a team and I was given an opportunity and able to take it.”
Wells’ chance came in a 4-1 win over Bermuda coach Kyle Lightbourne’s former team Coventry City in the English Football League Cup first round, with the striker picking up two assists.
He then marked his first league start of the season with his first goal in a 2-0 win at home to Luton Town.
“It was one of those games when I scored after five minutes and I knew that was the moment that change was going to happen,” Wells, a £4.2 million (US$4.8 million) marquee signing from Premier League club Burnley in January 2020, said.
“I was going to be able to really pull the ball back in my court because the manager [Nigel Pearson] is like that. He gives people chances and, if you take it, he is not going to take you out of the team for the sake of it. He will play you and he does stick to his word in that regard.
“I scored and we won. We got a clean sheet, our first win of the season and I had a big part to play in our performance that day. That’s been the story up to now so there’s been no reason to pull me out or rest me.
“I have just been constantly at it and playing well. My performances have been near excellent every game and I have been scoring. So I am just happy to be back at my best and back playing where I wanted to be all this time.”
Wells was further rewarded for his success by being named in the WhoScored.com Championship Team of the Month for September.
While he is delighted to be back among the goals and playing regularly, Wells admits it was a struggle coming to terms with limited playing time last term, when 25 of his 32 appearances came as a substitute.
“It was a tough journey and difficult but I am a tough individual,” Wells said.
“I am not getting any younger, I still feel amazing and I can play every game and every minute, but I have to take these opportunities when they come because they don’t come too often.”
CMC
