Joe Allen is hopeful that his recent form in Liverpool's midfield is enough to push him into Jürgen Klopp's first-team plans.
Having scored a late equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Arsenal, followed by an effort in the FA Cup against Exeter City, the Welshman netted the decisive spot-kick in the Reds' penalty shootout win over Stoke City to reach the Capital One Cup.
And Allen even led out a youthful squad as the club's stand-in captain for the first time in their draw with West Ham United at Anfield at the weekend as his stock continues to rise.
The 25-year-old, who turns 26 next month, has only started one Barclays Premier League game for the club so far this season - but he's keen to stake his claim for more regular first-team football when given the opportunity.
Midfielder keen for regular first-team football
"It's been a tough season," admitted Allen, who acknowledged the competition for his place being "as fierce as ever" and insisted: "Any opportunity that comes along, I've got to show what I can do."
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the Wales international said that he hopes the last few weeks, and his recent performances, "can be a springboard" to force his "way into the reckoning for more games."
He explained that his focus has been on making sure he's ready for chances when he's given them, as he said that "if you are not playing you can take your foot off the pedal a bit" and he was keen "to make sure that has not happened."
Allen declared that he doesn't want to get his chance "and then blow it" and admitted it's "testing" because everyone in Klopp's squad "wants to play week in, week out."
But he revealed nothing as to whether has been given any assurances he would be given more minutes throughout the remainder of the season, saying: "We'll see what comes of it."
The Reds' No.24, who signed from Swansea City in a £15 million deal in the summer of 2012, helped his country to their first major tournament since 1958 as Wales qualified for this summer's European Championships in France.
Allen, whose contract on Merseyside runs out in the summer of 2017, admitted that he would be lying if he said that the Euros wasn't at the back of his mind.
But he's confident of nailing down a place in Klopp's side well before then, insisting that there is "enough time between now and then" for him to be given "more opportunities" and vowed to "keep the faith" and "hopefully go to the Euros in good nick."
Welshman surprised to be given the armband
On taking the armband for the goalless stalemate against the Hammers on Saturday evening, he said that it "came as a surprise" to be given the captaincy because it was "only in the meeting before kick-off" that he was told.
He called it a "great feeling" to lead the team, but said he would have "loved to have won" which would have made it "extra special." Nevertheless, he said it's "something to be proud of" and hailed the young team's display as a "good performance" and said the frustrations that they didn't win "shows you how well we did."
He said that West Ham "have had a lot of success this season" and insisted therefore, "in some ways it was a risk" to play such a young side against top-flight opposition, but said the players loved having the confidence placed upon them and "certainly repaid that."
Allen continued that the visitors fielded "a strong line-up" and said how the Reds "pushed hard" in the final quarter of an hour for a winning goal, but "didn't just have enough" and said they'll "just have to go down there [for the replay] and do it."
Allen impressed by Cameron Brannagan's quality
Several Academy prospects thrived under the pressure, including teenager midfielder Cameron Brannagan who thrived alongside Allen despite being a mistmatch against Slaven Bilic's steely centre.
On the U21s' captain, Allen said that Brannagan caught his eye "as soon as he started training with us [the first-team]" and got into the senior squad, saying that he has "really impressed and showed a lot of quality" in his games and that he is the "type of player I really like."
