The 20-year-old Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner spent most of last season watching from the sidelines. He hopes rumours linking Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie with moves away from the club will afford him a spot in the first team.

He said: “I know everybody talks about winning things. But that is what it is all about this year. I want to try and take a trophy home.

“I do set myself targets (in pre-season). The main thing for everyone I think is to play a lot and of course I want to get more regularly into the squad.

“Then I want to progress in my own game. I want to prove to everyone what I can do.”