Bafana Bafana star forward Percy Tau insists that he has no intention of going out on another season-long loan stint.
Instead, the Brighton and Hove Albion attacker has set his sights on fighting for regular game time at the Premier League outfit.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns ace has already been on loan at three different clubs in Belgium – Union SG, Club Brugge and Anderlecht - since he signed for Brighton in 2018.
In December 2020, the Seagulls then pulled the trigger on a contractual clause in his loan deal and recalled the 26-year-old.
However, so far, the return has not been a fairy-tale story for Tau.
He did not see many playing minutes and notched up only three appearances in the remaining six months of the Premier League season, with two of those coming off the substitutes bench.
"I want to stay on at the club and fight for my place in the team‚ that's where I stand, and that's where the club stands," said Tau as quoted by the SowetanLIVE.
"I definitely want to stay at the club, and that is the way it is until something different happens. There is not much to report on about my six months at the club because I did not get enough game time.
"Sometimes you go through challenges‚ but I can't change the situation. The only thing I can do is to continue working hard and hope that the manager will select me for more matches.
"A few seasons ago, I signed with Brighton hoping that I would play in the EPL‚ but I got loaned out. I wouldn't think about another loan. I wouldn't think about a loan now‚ I will try to put myself in the team by working hard.
"It is difficult when you are not playing‚ especially because I was playing regularly the previous season in Belgium‚, but sometimes it is expected to be challenging."
Tau added: "Nobody can guarantee you game time. The coach can say he will you give you game time, but [then] someone in your position plays well by scoring goals and making assists.
"That will put your position in danger, and that was the situation with me this season‚ where I spent most of the time on the bench or not even in the team.
"Players that were in my position were doing well, and we were fighting relegation. One coach will look at it and say, 'I want players that I am used to', and another coach will say, 'I have a new player here‚ let's play him, and maybe he can give us something'.
"It can go either way‚ but players that I was competing with were doing well. But I spoke to the coach at length about my situation, and we are thinking the same‚ and I am looking forward to next season."