Nick Townsend says he wanted to repay Newport County AFC for the faith they showed in him after extending his stay with the club.
The goalkeeper penned a new two-year deal with the Exiles on Monday, ensuring he will remain with the club until the summer of 2023.
Townsend has had to play second fiddle to Joe Day, who he deputised for in the 2018-19 campaign, before doing the same for Tom King last season.
The 26-year-old has also endured time out on the sidelines since joining the Exiles in 2018 following a stint with Barnsley, but he has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Michael Flynn's side this season.
And wants to repay the Exiles by helping them in their bid to reach Sky Bet League One.
"I’m glad to get it all done and I’m excited for the next two years ahead," said Townsend
"The club have looked after me when I’ve been injured, so I feel like I need to repay them.
"I’ve enjoyed it the way we’ve been going over the last few years because we’ve kept progressing.
"I feel really settled here and it’s a great club for me to progress in my career. We’ve got a great chance of getting promoted this season, so hopefully we can carry that on now.”
The shot-stopper was given the nod on the opening day of the campaign when he helped the Exiles on their way to the second round of the Carabao Cup against Swansea City.
Townsend kept a clean sheet against the Sky Bet Championship outfit and has been the first choice option between the sticks since then, playing in all bar three of County’s league fixtures.
He has kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions this term in his first season as the number-one choice but has had to settle for doing it in front of empty stadiums due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It’s been difficult," added Townsend. "I would like my family and all the fans to be here, especially with the season that we’ve had.
"It’s hard but we know that the fans are watching back at home and supporting us from there.
"It does help that we’ve got the pressure of the city on us, so we’ll be doing everything we can to get over the line.
"The manager has backed me and all the coaching staff have been great to be fair. There’s been a real positive environment around the club, which is another reason why I wanted to stay here."
Townsend missed out on a place in the matchday squad at Wembley when County reached the play-off final two seasons ago, but is hoping to play his part in getting the club over the line this term.
The Exiles currently sit seventh in the Sky Bet League Two table with seven matches remaining in their bid to secure promotion.
They welcome play-off chasing Carlisle United on Tuesday evening prior to a clash against second-placed Cambridge United four days later.
"I’m excited for it and I think everyone at the club is," said Townsend, who is set for a busy week against two teams who have managed a combined 116 goals this term.
"There is a lot of positivity and it feels like when I first came here and we got to the play-off final.
"Everyone knows it’s seven cup finals for us now, so we need to get our heads down, put points on the board and see how it goes.