"I have started the last few games from the bench and after being top scorer at Euro 2004 that is a surprise," he said. "I don't think I'm a better or worse player than I was three months ago.
"I am using thoughts of that tournament to help me and I'm not afraid of the challenge.
"I believe in my abilities more and I just want to get the chance to show it. When I go on to the pitch I say to myself: 'this is the time for me, this will be good'.
"As a team, we feel things are coming together. We have new players in the team who are starting to fit in and with every training session we are getting better.
"Under Benitez we are working more on tactics and learning how to play a more pressing game. We are on the right track and we all trust the coach. Now I aim to start more games and I can only do that by continuing to work hard."