Nico Yennaris knows he still has a lot of work to do to ensure he remains one of the first names on the Brentford team sheet next season.
The former Arsenal youngster's emergence from fringe player and occasional right-back to midfield marvel has been one of the biggest success stories at Griffin Park this season.
But despite having played his way well and truly into manager Dean Smith plans, and earned a new contract to boot, Yennaris won't be resting on his laurels.
He said: “I saw this as my make or break season. The guys that see me every day see how hard I work. I was just trying to improve and take my chance when it came.
“I feel I have taken it and proved a lot of people wrong. There were a lot of doubters, but that was just because I hadn't played games. Now I've had a decent run of games people have seen what I can do.
“The aim now is to keep my place in the team for next year. I expect the manager will bring in a few players he knows, and all I can do is control the things I can control, like performing well. As long as I do that, I'll give myself the best chance of starting next season too.”
Yennaris' turnaround from zero to hero has coincided with Brentford's own change in direction from a team with one win in nine and nervously eyeing the Championship drop zone, to one which has won five games out of six and look set for a top 10 finish.
He added: “Six weeks ago we had a few back to back losses and it was all doom and gloom, but we pulled through back and look a stronger side for it.
“When we're not performing great we're still managing to score goals and win, like at MK Dons , which shows we have a lot of character in the side.”
Yennaris and his Bees team-mates travel to Hull City tonight looking to keep that good recent run of form going.
