The striker set up Glenn Murray for the opener and then scored himself during Saturday’s 4-0 win over Birmingham City, and feels the extra scope he’s been afforded out on the field has benefitted him so far under the new boss.
He said, “I feel good and the team are playing well. I played in a new role behind Glenn Murray against Birmingham, and it allows me to run into the channels more and use my long-distance shooting.
“That gave me more space and more freedom to move, I think it suits me better and I definitely prefer playing behind the striker.”
Last term the forward notched four times in all competitions, as he found the net in back-to-back league games during December and twice in the Emirates FA Cup.
Now entering his third campaign with the club, the 25-year-old believes the best is yet to come.
“I feel it’s probably fair to say that I haven’t shown my full potential here yet. I can give goals and assists, so if I keep this up, I can continue improving," he continued.
“It’s about being flexible, as a team you know you have to always adapt. If the coach thinks it would be better suited for us to play in a certain way one week against particular opposition, then it’s up to us as players to carry that out.
“This year as a club we have to be as consistent as we can. We have to keep the level as high as we can every week. Personally, I want to score goals, help the team, and enjoy the game while having fun on the field.”