Having penned a contract for the rest of this season, Ryan Astles plans to ensure his performances keep him at Chester FC for even longer.
Blues fans haven't had much to cheer of late so the centre-back's encouraging start to his Chester career has been a welcome positive.
Astles impressed on his first league start against Southport and followed that up with another solid showing against Braintree Town at the weekend.
He has been rewarded with a deal for the remainder of the campaign after arriving on non-contract forms from Northwich Victoria at the beginning of January.
And the 22-year-old, who credits Ben Heneghan and Ian Sharps with helping him settle in, wants to keep improving and earn himself a contract for 2015-16.
"That's what I wanted to come in, do my best and see where I went and now the gaffer's given a contract until the end of the season," said Astles.
"I want to try and push on now and get one for next season as well.
Read: Ryan Astles signs contract until the end of the season
"It's been quite easy settling into the team because Ben's talking me through the games and getting me through it. Sharpy has been helping too and it's competition as well and that competition is pushing me on.
"The lads have been great and it's been really good here so far."
Astles moved to Evo-Stik League First Division South side Northwich in the summer after two seasons with in the Welsh Premier League with Rhyl.
The Birkenhead-born defender was on the books of Chester City and Tranmere Rovers as a schoolboy before moving to Wigan Athletic. He left Wigan in 2013 and signed for Buckley Town, spending a season at Globe Way before switching to Rhyl.
Read: Ryan Astles ready and waiting to grab his chance
During his time at Belle Vue, Astles scored six times in 60 appearances and was nominated for Welsh Premier League Young Player of the Season in 2014-15.
Chester are on a run of five league games without a win but have a welcome distraction this weekend with an FA Trophy third round game at FC Halifax Town.
Astles won't be involved as he's cup-tied but he's optimistic results will pick up and the Blues will haul themselves clear of the danger zone.
"We know the next couple of games of tough but we believe we are going to go in and win games and push on further up the table," he said.
