Jai Bean is determined to seize his opportunity and continue to lead the line for Bermuda as he tries to establish himself as the long-term successor to Nahki Wells.

In the wake of talisman Wells’s decision to step back from international football in March, a glaring void was left in the men’s national team front line.

Since then, Bean has emerged as the man entrusted to succeed Wells, with the 20-year-old having started in Bermuda’s past seven Concacaf Nations League matches and scoring twice in the process.

The striker looks set to retain his place in coach Michael Findlay’s starting line-up ahead of a pivotal League B group C clash away to French Guiana in Martinique this afternoon (3pm kick-off), with the winner earning promotion to the top tier of the competition.

While the onus of filling Wells’s shoes is not lost on Bean after he was given the backing of the Bristol City striker himself, he is more than confident of making the position his own for years to come.

“I’m definitely feeling confident leading the line for Bermuda and I’m really pleased to have been given the chance to do so,” said Bean, who plays for Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

“I know I’ve got big shoes to fill following someone like Nahki Wells, but I’ve felt good so far and I’m always ready to do what I can for the team.

“It’s definitely a chance for me to come in and try to make that role my own. I’ve spoken with Nahki a lot and he’s always encouraged me to just do my own thing because he said he knows my talents and what I’m capable of.

“There is definitely some extra pressure trying to fill his boots and it is always going to be a really hard thing to do. He is such a good player who has had a brilliant career and is loved by the Bermuda fans.

“However, I’m always confident in my own ability and what I am capable of doing for the team, so I just have to keep doing my best when I get the chance.”

Bean has been utilised as the lone striker in Findlay’s set-up and although the role can prove daunting at times with an added burden of being the team’s primary goal threat, it is a challenge that the ever-willing player relishes.

“It can be tough at times playing as the lone striker, but I really enjoy it,” he added.

“It helps to have such good players behind me that always feed me with such good service and make my job easier.

“Then it’s up to me to make sure I do my thing in front of goal, which I’m always confident of doing.”

A vital 3-1 victory over St Vincent & the Grenadines at the Flora Duffy Stadium on Friday night, coupled with Belize’s last-ditch 1-0 win at home to French Guiana, ensured Bermuda head into the crunch final group clash with destiny in their own hands.

Belize, also on seven points, one clear of St Vincent, remain firmly in the hunt for promotion, while the latter are not entirely out of it, either, but they would have to beat Belize by six goals while hoping Bermuda and French Guiana draw.

Bean revealed the squad are desperate to fulfil their primary aim of sealing promotion back to League A and return to a level they believe Bermuda should be playing at.

“From a personal point of view I’m definitely hopeful of doing my part to help lead this team to promotion to League A,” he said.

“We need to be playing at the highest level possible and we all feel like we should be in that top league.

“We feel like we’re the best team in this group and so I want nothing more than to do whatever I can to help the team achieve our goal.”