NICKY Ajose cannot quash his hunger to prove himself as a Championship striker despite being settled at Swindon Town.

Ajose proved a revelation at the County Ground during the 2015-16 campaign after arriving at the club on a free transfer last September.

He bagged 25 goals in all competitions and finished level pegging at the top of the League One scoring charts.

Although Ajose still has two years left on his contract, there is sure to be plenty of interest from higher-level clubs keen to prize the 24-year-old away from the County Ground.

Ajose admits he does not know what the future holds for him and although he has loved life back at Town – following a previous loan stint in 2013-14 – he will not deny his desire to try to cut his teeth at the highest level possible.

When asked by BBC Wiltshire if it was sensible for Town to plan for life without him, Ajose said: “I don’t know. I am not the chairman or manager of other clubs.

“I have never shied away from the fact I am desperate to play at the highest level and I think the next step for me is the Championship.

“I feel I can prove myself time and time again. In this league I scored goals in a team that was down the bottom last year at Crewe, I scored goals the previous season with Swindon and Peterborough.

“I know I can score goals at this level and I want to prove I can be a top striker in the league above.

“I wanted that to be with Swindon, obviously this year, that’s not to be.

“I am really happy here, I really enjoy my football and I am sure if anything comes in that suits the club and suits myself there will be discussions about it, but at the moment, there is nothing to report on that.

“I am just thinking about having a good break and getting ready back here next season and hopefully we can build something again.”

Even if Ajose does stay at the County Ground for 2016-17, he still expects the club to have plenty of other activity in the transfer market.

Whoever is in the squad come the start of the next campaign, Ajose wants it to be as strong as possible so that Town can mount a strong push towards the top of the table, rather than fighting it out at the bottom.

“Every year at Swindon there’s going to be changes, there’s no hiding away from that, there’s no point saying there’s not,” said Ajose.

“Whatever team’s here come the start of the season, we need to make sure it’s going to be one that’s challenging at the right end of the table.”