Sam Saunders said he was “delighted” to sign a new Brentford contract to ensure he will remain at Griffin Park for a further 18 months.
The attacking midfield player signed a new contract on Thursday, January 15.
It extended his current deal, which was due to expire this summer, for a further 12 months.
Sam has been at Brentford since the summer of 2009 and said he always wanted to sign.
He missed much of 2014 with a knee injury that he now says he is recovered from but came back in November and was offered a new deal soon after.
“I am delighted,” said Sam, speaking to Bees Player.
“Everyone knows about the problems I have had in the last year.
“To get something signed early is nice for both parties.
“Everyone knows how I feel about this club and it is great to know I will be here for another 18 months.
“It was nice to be offered a contract; I had only been back in the squad for three or four weeks.
“It is nice to feel loved.
“It has taken a month with a few negotiations but I always knew I would sign.
“I want to be part of the Club moving forward.”
Sam said he wanted to be at a club that was progressing.
“I came in to the game late, every contract has been important, he said.
“I felt it had to be right.
“It keeps me at the Club for what will be seven years.
“The Club is progressing, I am enjoying every season.
“At 31 I don’t want to stand still, the Club is the same.”
Sam said he has been available for every training session since returning from injury and hoped it would continue.
He has made four substitute appearances this season, scoring twice against Ipswich Town.
Sam said there is competition for places unlike anything he has known and he was hoping to get his chance.
“Touch wood, the injury has been good,” he said.
“I have trained very day and been available for every squad.
“I hope it will continue.
“I am itching to get more minutes.
“I have only played a few games this season but what I have played I have enjoyed.
“I hope there will be more chances over the next few months.
“I have done everything I can in the gym and on the training pitch; I am just waiting for chances on the pitch.
“There is so much competition – there are probably ten or 12 players that can play in the midfield area.
“Everyone knows if they are not on their game they will get left out.
“Performances and results have been good.
“To progress you need competition.
“Training is frightening, it is so quick, there is quality every day.”
Brentford are fifth in the Sky Bet Championship just past the midway point of the season.
They beat Rotherham United last week, ending a run of three straight defeats – Championship losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich and an FA Cup reverse against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Bees had won seven of eight games before that to climb to the upper echelons of the table.
“Performances have been good, apart from Ipswich, who deserved to beat us,” said Sam.
“Against Wolves and Brighton the stats were in our favour but you don’t always get the rub of the green.
“We won six or seven on the bounce before that.
“You won’t win every game; we have been solid and consistent for the last few months.”
Brentford face Brighton again this afternoon in a Championship match.
It will be Brentford’s first trip to Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium and the first home game for new Brighton boss Chris Hughton.
Brighton won 2-0 at Griffin Park in the cup tie earlier this month thanks to two late goals.
“It will be a different game,” said Sam.
“We did some analysis of what we did right and wrong.
“I mentioned in the analysis meeting that we went gung-ho in the last ten minutes because we wanted to avoid a replay and got caught out.
“In a league game we wouldn’t have left the sort of gap between midfield and defence and got caught on the counter.
“It will be different, we will go there, they have a new manger to impress.
“It is a big open pitch, the boys can pass it and we have played well in big stadiums with big pitches.
“We will go there full of confidence and look forward to the game.”
Sam said Brentford was a very different place from the club he joined in 2009.
He said Owner Matthew Benham had a plan that was coming to fruition and he could see the growth.
“The Club has changed loads,” said Sam.
“Matthew Benham has a plan and you can see it over the seasons.
“We have a structured plan with a stadium coming.
“Everything has improved – players, staff, training ground, stadium.
“It is all geared to keep up moving on.”
A full video interview with Sam Saunders is available here for Bees Player subscribers.