Wells wants another crack at top flight
Nahki Wells insists he has what it takes to compete in the Premier League and is “hungry” to get another chance to prove himself at that level.
The Bermuda forward realised a childhood dream when he was signed by Premier League side Burnley for £5 million in 2017.
However, he was unable to make a real impact at the club where he made nine substitute appearances for them during the 2017-18 season before being loaned to Queens Park Rangers.
Wells says not being able to “stamp his authority” and open his account during his previous stint in English football’s top tier is something that “doesn’t sit well” with him.
“It doesn’t sit too well with me that I did get to a Premier League club, a team that did very well at the time, and wasn’t really able to stamp my authority and show what I had,” he said during a press conference before City’s Sky Bet Championship match at home to Derby County on Wednesday.
“Not being able to score a Premier League goal is still something that just sits back in my head always.”
The 29-year-old was recalled by parent club Burnley from his season long loan spell at QPR and joined City for £4 million on a 3½-year deal before the January transfer window closed.
“As a player who had a Premier League opportunity, I really didn’t get to take it, so that’s still something that burns me deep inside,” he added. “This club matched my ambition to want to continue to move forward, not settling with just being in the Championship.
“This club wants to get to the Premier League and my ambition is the same, so I want to give it everything I’ve got and I think this club gives me a very good platform of doing that.
“I’m hungry to do it and feel I’m at a good stage in my career. I started football quite late, so I think I’m getting to the peak of my career and I want to carry that form on through and try and influence this squad and help move the team in that direction along with what we have going on well here at the moment.”
Wells made his club debut in a 1-0 win away to former club QPR on February 1 as a substitute.
He is now pushing for a spot in City manager Lee Johnson’s starting XI.
“I will be preparing to start, as always, and if called upon I will be ready to start the match and if not I will be ready to make an impact from the bench,” he said. “It’s down to the manager and I’m just doing everything I can on the training ground to encourage him to believe in me to start me.”