If one thing is for certain, Nahki Wells loves Bristol City but the striker is more of a realist than an optimist surrounding his future at the club.
The 31-year-old made just his sixth league start of the season against Bournemouth last weekend with Antoine Semenyo's injury proving a rare opportunity for the experienced striker to show manager Nigel Pearson what he's been missing.
He couldn't capitalise on the goal he scored at home to West Brom before the international week, his third of the season, and now Semenyo's imminent return from a knee injury may see Wells back to his familiar spot back on the substitute bench.
It's been a position that Wells has been forced to "bite his tongue" and accept, acknowledging the form of his strike partners that ensured opportunities in the first team have been few and far between.
He had the chance to leave on loan in January with a temporary move to Cardiff in the offering which Nigel Pearson wasn't willing to sanction. But with a contract until 2023 and with Wells not getting any younger, he knows an amicable move is likely to suit both parties come the end of the season.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's game with Peterborough, he said: "I have another year at this club, I haven't been told anything different to that.
"My main focus is to do as well as I can for Bristol City, if things change and we know how football goes, if there's a change in the management's approach then of course we have to look at other opportunities but I love it here, I still want to play, I still love working with the manager.
"I love my time here at this football club, I love coming into work and love playing for the club, love everything about it.
"But ultimately I'm here to play football and play as well as I can. Opportunities are coming few and far between and common logic suggests if another opportunity comes and presents itself to go and play then that is the right thing to do.
"And that is my approach. Even though I had an opportunity to go and play football or go out on loan, which I thought would be beneficial for my career at the time, it just didn't transpire.
"The gaffer wanted me to stay, he reassured me that I would get opportunities and for quite some time I didn't think that was going to happen and Antoine picked up a niggle which gave me a chance so I just try to stay as positive and present until the end of the season."
It's clear Wells just wants to do the thing that he loves most and play football. Pearson has consistently praised his attitude being out of the side which was encapsulated when Wells put himself forward to play for the Under-23s in the 3-1 win over Cardiff's youngsters at the beginning of March - in which he scored a brace.
"It's an opportunity to get mileage in my legs, score a couple and get confidence," he said of his cameo with the younger generation.
"Anyone in my position would find it difficult to make huge impacts when opportunities have been so few and far between. I'm under no illusion that the players who have played in front of me thoroughly deserve to be playing.
"I don't think I'm envious of anyone, I think Andi has been fantastic. He's had to play in many places and deserves to play, Chris Martin has been pivotal to us as a focal point and reliable for us and it's been a catalyst for Andi's performances and Antoine who has come on leaps and bounds this season and as a player is going up as an upward spiral.
"That leaves me on the outskirts having to bite my tongue, keep my head down and be a part of the team and ready when the opportunities come so it's been difficult of course.
"I know I have so much football to play, I just try to have as good a career as possible. I'm quite comfortable with what I have done in my career but I'm still ambitious."
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
