BILLY Sharp hopes to bag some crucial goals for Nottingham Forest between now and the end of the season – so he has a tough decision to make in the summer.
The striker has set his sights on firing the Reds into the Premier League, to give himself a chance of proving himself in the top flight next season.
Sharp, currently on loan from Southampton, admits he would consider a permanent switch to the City Ground.
But he says he is focused on playing his part in the play-off challenge under Billy Davies, so that he has the option of plying his trade with two different Premier League clubs.
"It would be nice if the club I am contracted to were in the Premier League and the club I have been on loan to were as well," said Sharp, who will be part of the squad that faces Brighton in a crucial promotion clash this afternoon.
"That would put me in a strong position at the end of the season. That is why I wanted to sign for the full season. I wanted to be settled. I wanted to help the club achieve something special.
"That has given me a good feeling – and hopefully we can achieve something.
"I have been on loan for the season and I have played under three managers. So there has been a certain amount of uncertainty.
"I actually bumped into the Southampton chairman when I was away last weekend. It was the first time I had spoken to him since I had been here, which was quite funny.
"I have seen rumours in the media that I am going to sign permanently. I have spoken to the gaffer about one or two things.
"But at the minute, I just want to do my job to the best of my ability to help Forest get in a stronger position and, hopefully, to get promotion."
Sharp believes he has the quality to ply his trade at the highest level – but his immediate aim is to force his way back into the starting line-up at Forest, after finding himself on the bench amid the six-match winning streak.
"I still believe now that I could do a job in the Premier League," he said. "But it is about people believing in you. Not enough people believed in me at Southampton.
"But people believed in me here, which is why I am here. I like to play as much as anyone else, so it has been frustrating recently. But there is no point sulking. If you sulk, you are not going to help yourself or the team.
"I have to get my head down and work hard. If I can do that, perhaps I can score an important goal between now and the end of the season that can help this squad achieve something special."
