As ever at the start of any season, Premier League players are preparing to hit the ground running.

But for some, a new campaign is more important than for others as they look to polish their statuses and make themselves more valuable in their managers' eyes in comparison to the 2013/14 campaign.

Here are some of the players who want to make the most of 2014/15: 

Joe Hart

While the Manchester City goalkeeper is likely to start the season as the club's No 1 ahead of new signing Willy Caballero, some of his manager's recent public pronouncements have an ominous tone should he make an error.

Manuel Pellegrini has already hinted that the goalkeeper spot in not fully set in stone and also said that he would not play an English player for the sake of it, saying that "during the year I don’t look at the nationality of the players".

With that in mind, Pellegrini's appreciation of Caballero and the fact that Hart was dropped for Costel Pantilimon for a period last season, a strong showing in 2014/15 is vital if he is to become City's undisputed No 1.

A repeat of the error strewn displays of the past 18 months would certainly raise questions about his City future under Pellegrini, who does not appear to be 100 per cent convinced by him.

Stevan Jovetic

The Montenegrin has been in fine goalscoring form for Manchester City during pre-season. But the former Fiorentina forward will have to bring that form into the new season if he is to leap above Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko long-term.

Intelligent and tactically flexible, he arrived at City carrying injuries which meant he never got a good run in the first team last season.

Manchester City's Samir Nasri (C) and Stevan Jovetic (R) celebrate after Jovetic scored during the International Champions Cup friendly soccer match between Manchester City and Olympiacos in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 02 August 2014. EPA/CRAIG LASSIG

But based on his pre-season form, Manuel Pellegrini will be encouraged by the 24-year-old's goalscoring touch. During the International Champions Cup, braces came against both Milan and Liverpool, while he also added another goal against Olympiakos.

Erik Lamela

Given his age and the talent he previously showed at Roma and River Plate, the Argentine attacker should never be written off.

But this season is hugely important for Tottenham's record signing after a difficult debut season at a chaotic Tottenham.

The 22-year-old made just nine Premier League appearances (with a zero in the goals column) for Spurs in 2013/14 amid injury and indifferent form.

Pre-season has seen Lamela score three times with a double against Toronto FC and another striker against Celtic, while it also helps that his manager is countryman Mauricio Pochettino who may have the tools to unlock his potential in a season in which he needs to start showing some of his promise.

Tottenham Hotspur Erik Lamela in action against Tromso Il during a UEFA Europa League soccer game Group K at White Hart Lane in London, Britain, 19 September 2013 EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

Alvaro Negredo

While his Man City team-mate, Jovetic, will look to take decent pre-season form into the new campaign, Negredo's own preparations were dealt a blow when he was ruled out for the start of the season due to a broken bone in his foot.

The injury hamstrings his chances of being the No 1 striker at the Etihad after his form tailed off alarmingly in the second half of 2013/14.

After scoring nine league goals in the early part of last season, injury and diminished form saw the Spaniard fail to add to that total, with Edin Dzeko stealing his thunder somewhat during the title run in.

Once he returns from injury, Negredo will hope to recapture the form of late 2013 as soon as possible, given the fierce competition up front.

Oscar

Once it became apparent that Jose Mourinho had gone off Juan Mata during the first half of 2013/14, the Brazil playmaker became something of a teacher's pet as he fulfilled the brief the Portuguese handed to him.

But by the end of the season, the manager seemed to be a tad disappointed by the former Sao Paulo player's form, saying: "I think he was our best player for months, from August to November or December. He was absolutely fantastic. And after that he was up and down." 

He had also implied that Oscar was distracted by the summer's World Cup on home soil, although Mourinho had also cited the role of fatigue and weather in Oscar's downturn.

But now that he is returning to club duty after a World Cup to forget in Brazil (his own level at the tournament was okay), he will have to be ready to fight for his place.

Mourinho has a strong compliment of players who can play in any of the three positions behind the main striker with Cesc Fabregas, Willian, Andre Schurrle, Eden Hazard, Mohamed Salah - and even Ramires on the right side - competing for those positions which means any drop in form could see him spending extended spells on the bench. 

Daniel Sturridge

While it may seem odd to speak of the Liverpool striker in this context, this is a crucial season for him in terms of laying down a marker and establishing himself as the Reds' de-facto centre-forward for years to come.

Last season, he was in brilliant form as he netted 24 goals in all competitions. But with striker partner Luis Suarez having left Anfield, Sturridge will want to maintain his own upwards momentum. He will also want to step out of the shadow of his former team-mate amid greater personal scrutiny, thereby nailing himself down as an elite forward.

Indeed last season Off The Ball soccer pundit Pat Nevin questioned whether the pressure had got to Sturridge in the latter reaches of the campaign, and the 24-year-old will be looking to dispel any latent doubts. 

Danny Welbeck

2013/14 was the England international's joint-best at Man United in terms of goals, with the forward ending the season with a healthy nine.

However, as he has often stated in the past, his main goal is to become a regular centre-forward rather than a utility man whose pace sees him often deployed out wide.

In United's 3-4-1-2 formation under Louis Van Gaal, Welbeck is likely to start behind Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie in the pecking order for the striker positions.

It goes without saying that if he wants to get regular game-time at centre-forward at Old Trafford, this is the season when he must impress Van Gaal and improving his goal-rate is key to that. 

According to Squawka, his goal-to-shot conversion rate was 25 per cent in the league last season which is only inferior to Van Persie. But a run of goals is the most important thing for Welbeck under the new regime.

Jack Wilshere 

At the weekend, former Arsenal captain Tony Adams claimed that the Gunners's 22-year-old midfielder should have seen Mesut Ozil's signing last summer as a "personal insult".

In the interview with The Sun, Adams said: "He must show more hunger and professionalism. He's in danger of not fulfilling his potential and his career could be over in the blink of an eye."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a fan of Wilshere's abilities, but regular injuries and a the recent photo of him smoking again (months after a similar image surfaced), have seen the England international incur greater scrutiny, with a belief in some circles that his talent is going to waste.

The potential is not in doubt, but sooner rather than later, he will need to turn that promise into something concrete as the Gunners go from strength to strength - with his place in the XI not guaranteed.