Blackpool striker Armand Gnanduillet has suggested that he believes the competition for places up front in Simon Grayson's squad is helping him to find his best form so far this season.
Gnanduillet has been in fine form so far this season in front of goal, managing to register five goals in Blackpool's opening 12 League One matches and providing a focal point in the final third for Grayson's side to build from.
The 27-year-old has faced competition from the likes of Joe Nuttall, Ryan Hardie and Nathan Delfouneso for a place as Blackpool's main striker so far this season, and the striker's form has seen him emerge as Grayson's first choice centre forward for most of Blackpool's league matches so far this term.
Gnanduillet started Blackpool's goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers on Monday night and the forward struggled to make his usual impact on a tight contest, which saw neither side able to break the deadlock in a game of relatively few golden chances in front of goal, as the Tangerines settled for a point to lift them up to fourth place in the table.
Speaking to the Blackpool Gazette following the goalless draw at Bolton, Gnanduillet was keen to point out he is relishing the battle for starting places in the side and that he thinks it is driving him on to show improved form this term, saying, "I want players to be at their best because it pushes me. I love the challenge of competition and it doesn’t scare me.
"We have some good forward players at the club – Joe, Ryan, Delf (Nathan Delfouneso), Sullay (Kaikai) – so you know you have to score. I love the competition and that only helps the team.
"I have been asked to play like I do now since I came to England, and I never understood why. Now I understand what I have to do.
"I get the ball, take touches, play the ball wide and get in the box to try and score goals. I feel stronger and stronger now and even score goals with my head. That wasn’t one of my strengths back in the day."
The Verdict
Gnaduillet has certainly shown improvement this season from the form he was displaying last season for Blackpool, with the 27-year-old now adding goals to his game on a much more regular basis as well as providing a useful physical presence up front for the Tangerines to play off and retain possession in the final third.
Grayson has managed to inspire the 27-year-old, rather than manage to suffer a loss of motivation, through brining in both Hardie and Nuttall during the summer transfer window to provide competition for places up front in Blackpool's squad.
That has been huge for the Tangerines with Gnanduillet knowing now that he will need to be performing at his best to retain his place in the starting line-up, and when he has been left out the 27-year-old has shown the right attitude, with him coming off the bench to score the last minute winner at Doncaster Rovers an excellent example of his willingness to play his part even when left out of the side.