Marvin Sordell is determined to give his manager Malky Mackay “no choice” but to pick the striker.

Sordell started the season in exceptional style and had already scored 13 goals by January. But the 20-year-old has not found the back of the net since then – a run of 11 games – and has not started since the 2-2 draw with Preston North End on February 15.

Sordell said: “I know the manager knows the right time to take players in and out of the team and obviously he has shown it works because the team is doing really well and we are still fighting for a play-off place.

“It is up to me to fight my way back into the team.”

He continued: “I am not too sure exactly what I need to do but I have just got to try to impact games when I come on and impress in training. I have to try not to give him any choice but to play me.”

Sordell’s last seven appearances have come from the bench and he admits it is often difficult to make an impact as a substitute.

He said: “Obviously it depends on the game and what is happening at the time because a lot of times I have come on and either we are already winning the game and it is about seeing it out or some times we are drawing and we are under a bit of pressure.

“So it can be difficult as some times it depends on the circumstances of the game as to whether you can make a heavy impact.

“But hopefully I can get back in the team, score more goals and try to get in the play-offs.”

Sordell had only scored two goals for Watford and three in league football coming into the 2010/11 campaign after making a combined 14 appearances for both Tranmere Rovers and his parent club during his debut season. But the former Fulham trainee has now made 54 outings as a professional and he admits this season has surpassed his expectations.

Sordell said: “Obviously I have done much better than I thought I would because in pre-season I only expected to be a bit-part player and the club bought a striker in Troy Deeney and I did not expect to play as many games as I have.

“As it turned out, I have played a lot of games this season and I just want to push on and try to get back in the team as well.”

When asked if he was surprised by his 13-goal tally this season, Sordell replied: “I wouldn’t say I am surprised how many I have scored as I always had faith in my goal-scoring ability, so I always believed I could score goals at whatever level I play at.”

Sordell’s form this campaign earned him his first international call-up in February and the striker marked his England Under-20 debut with a goal against France.

He said: “It is a great experience playing for your country and it shows I am progressing as a player. It obviously felt great to pull on the England shirt.”