Lee Bradbury has declared he wants to be given another go up front - because he's fed up with playing all over the place in midfield.

Last year's Oxford United captain has asked new boss Brian Talbot to play this season as a striker, and Talbot says he will give him the opportunity to show what he can do.

Speaking after getting back into the swing of pre-season training, Bradbury said: "I've asked the manager to be considered for up front. Whether I play or not is up to me - it's up to me to do my best and score goals to keep myself in the team.

"I've played up front for ten years and last season was the first time I'd been in midfield.

"To be put into midfield and to play left, right, central midfield . . . I just didn't enjoy it at all."

Bradbury has no doubts he can cut it as a striker in League Two after scoring 74 goals at Portsmouth and Manchester City and a number of clubs on loan.

"I've scored at two leagues above this for nine years on the trot so I don't see why I can't score at this level," said the former England Under 21 striker, who celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday.

Pressure built up when he began last season alongside Tommy Mooney but failed to find the net in his first five games, and former boss Graham Rix then tried to find a starting place for Steve Basham.

Bradbury said: "I always go through a season where I have seven or eight games and don't score, I just had it at the beginning of the season last year.

"We've got Chrissy Hackett and Stuart Gray now, so we've got some good wingers and hopefully we'll get some good balls in the box and I'll get some goals."

Talbot said: "I don't think it's a good idea to have players playing in different positions and being moved around all the time although you do get the odd utility player.

"I think people have got to be happy about where they play.

"I know some people say he's not good enough to play up front, but that is for him to determine.

"He wants to play up there and if he's not good enough he'll have to not play there because he doesn't want to play central midfield."

Talbot admitted: "I've got an open mind about it and I've said to Lee, if this is where you want to play, son, OK. I called him twice again in the summer and said where do you want to play? and he said 'up front, I'm good enough to play up front, and I'll score goals'.

"I said OK, I'll give you a chance.

"We've got Jamie Brooks coming back, he wants to play up front, not in central midfield or wide positions and Lee, who's been disappointed with his performances and his positions since he has been here, and who doesn't want to play central midfield.

"We've also got Craig Davies, who's upset, so I've been told, because he thinks he is going to be a sub and not start, so he wants to play up front as well.

"All these lads want to be playing, as does Steve Basham.

"I believe that footballers, as a group of players, want a manager to be honest, they want him to be fair.

"I also want my players to be honest and fair. So I've got to give Brooks and Bradbury a chance."

So rather than concentrating on bringing in a replacement for 15-goal Mooney, Talbot has cast his eye over central midfield, and he hopes to have someone new training with his squad today.