Guillem Bauza has scored 14 goals in his two years at Swansea City
Guillem Bauza hopes to win a regular first-team spot under new Swansea manager Paulo Sousa next season.
Bauza, 24, scored the goals that sealed promotion to the Championship 15 months ago but struggled last season, making just eight starts in 21 appearances.
With the exit of former boss Roberto Martinez to take over at Wigan, Bauza is hoping for more joy under Sousa.
"I want to play as much as I can and I hope the gaffer believes in me," the Spanish striker told BBC Sport Wales.
"My first aim is to push hard to get in the first team."
Bauza, a free transfer from Espanyol in 2007, is an Under-16 European Championship winner with Spain where he played alongside Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
He scored 11 league and cup goals in his first season at the Liberty Stadium, including a brace in the 2-1 win at Gillingham that clinched promotion to the Championship.
That was on the back of 17 starts in 35 appearances but Bauza struggled to progress last season, often being used as a midfielder as Martinez preferred to use one striker up front.
Bauza's hopes of securing a regular first-team spot have been boosted by the £2m departure of top scorer Jason Scotland to Wigan.
But he still has to compete with Gorka Pintado, new signing Stephen Dobbie and another striker who Sousa is looking to bring in.
"We've had competition in the years I've been here and that's not going to change," he said.
And with all three strikers scoring in the Swans two pre-season friendlies, Bauza knows he faces stiff competition.
"To grab a goal is important for a striker and the team and I'm quite happy because I played 30 minutes," he said after the 6-1 defeat of Neath on Monday.
"What was important was to feel good, to be fitter and I think every day we are a bit better.
"I think the gaffer wants to keep the same philosophy, but his mind is different but the game is maybe going to be similar, improving the things we are doing."
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