ANDRE Ayew has vowed to work even harder as he bids to build on a superb start to life at Swansea City.
The Ghana international is in the running to win two African footballer awards.
He faces competition from Manchester City's Yaya Toure, Sadio Mane of Southampton, Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng and Porto forward Yacine Brahimi to be named BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
And Ayew has also been nominated for the CAF African Player of the Year prize.
The Swansea forward has made an excellent start to life at the Liberty, scoring five goals in 12 Premier League appearances since switching from France in the summer.
But Ayew believes Premier League defenders are now paying him special attention and he will have to improve in order to keep delivering at the same level.
"I'm not surprised with my performance but I'm just working hard to improve and the results are showing on the pitch," said Ayew.
"When you get a good beginning, people get to know you more and they start to mount tactics on you.
"So I need to work even harder because things are becoming more difficult, that is the game and that is why I have a lot of respect for the big players like Ronaldo and Messi.
"When you start and you are winning and scoring, people mark you with a different eye and if you keep doing it that means you are great.
"So to be an ambitious and a great player I have to do more so I haven't done anything yet."