Liam Cullen, forward for Swansea City and Wales, is eager to contribute in whatever way he can during a crucial month for both his club and country.
The 26-year-old will take the field for the Swans as they wrap up a series of Championship matches with away games against Portsmouth on Tuesday at 19:45 GMT and Wrexham on Friday at 20:00 GMT.
After that, Cullen will join the Wales national team in their quest for a spot in this summer’s World Cup.
Craig Bellamy’s squad will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff for the play-offs on Thursday, March 26, with the winner set to face either Italy or Northern Ireland.
If Swansea performs well this week, they could contend for a play-off position, and Cullen is focused on that opportunity, although he acknowledges the challenge of not thinking about the international fixtures ahead.
“It’s a really significant month for us,” said Cullen.
“We have a few more games to focus on with Swansea, and our goal is to climb the table by securing as many points as possible.
“While my concentration is fully on that, the major games at the end of the month inevitably occupy your thoughts.”
Cullen, who played a key role in Wales’ emphatic 7-1 victory over North Macedonia last November, added: “It’s important to stay fit and be ready for the national camp when the time comes.
“That week will be all about everyone contributing to help the team and the nation succeed.”
An Impressive Strike
Liam Cullen scored his fifth goal of the season from near halfway against Stoke [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Cullen has been making a significant impact off the bench for Swansea recently.
The Pembrokeshire native contributed a crucial equalizer against Preston last month with a close-range header and sealed the win against Stoke on Saturday with an impressive lob from the halfway line.
After intercepting a stray pass with his right foot, he perfectly used his left to loft the ball over goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.
“Once the ball came to me, I knew exactly what to do,” said Cullen. “It was positioned nicely for me, and I was set on shooting.
“With the encouragement of 15,000 fans and my teammates urging me to shoot, I knew I had to strike it cleanly.
“It felt like an eternity waiting for the ball to go in, and when it finally did, it was an amazing feeling.
“The shot was like delivering a long pass; I knew I just had to make solid contact.”
Cullen previously scored the only goal in a December match against Portsmouth after coming on as a substitute, and he hopes to earn a starting position for the upcoming game at Fratton Park.
Nevertheless, he is committed to fully contributing in whatever role is assigned to him by manager Vitor Matos.
“Everyone wants to play, of course. Not being on the pitch can be frustrating, but I strive to channel that energy positively,” said Cullen, who was last season’s top scorer with 12 goals.
“With my experience, I know that if I’m not in the starting lineup, I’ll feel that frustration, but I will support my teammates as much as I can, helping them prepare and encouraging them.
“When I do get on the field, my aim is to demonstrate my skills and make an impact on the game.”
Cullen is also confident that Swansea possesses the squad depth necessary to handle a demanding schedule as they aim to improve on their 11th-place finish from the previous season.
“Successful teams have squads that compete and support one another, with everyone contributing at various times,” he stated.
“This year, our squad is deeper than it has been in the past few seasons.”