Brisbane Roar youngster Mitch Nichols is keen to prove his worth to the club following the departure of Charlie Miller. The 20-year old Young Socceroo is determined to fill the hole left by the Scottish playmaker and go on a run of good form to help the Roar climb the A-League table.
"We've had a lot of injuries so I've been filling in a couple of positions here and there but hopefully I can nail down that number 10 position for the rest of the season," the midfielder said.
"I've just got to train hard and take my chance."
Nichols' form has been up and down this season after an impressive term in 2008/09 and although he is not making excuses, puts it down to injury and international duty.
"I had the under-20s (World Cup) and it's been an up and down season all around," he added.
"That affects everyone. I've really just got to work hard and keep working on my game and hopefully things fall into place."
The once-capped Socceroo said he was hoping to get back to goalscoring form soon but insists he will just do his best to help them team each week and if that turns into goals, then all well and good.
"I always want to go out and play well. I don't think I've gotten anywhere near what I played like last year but I've just got to keep working hard and take things as they come," Nichols said.
"Some things haven't been falling for me. It'd be good to get a goal soon and hopefully I can get a bit of that confidence back.
"That's just football, sometimes you get your luck and other times things don't go your way.
"As long as I'm doing the right thing for the team hopefully I'll get that luck and get a goal and push on from there."