MIDFIELDER Mark Byrne says Newport County AFC have helped him rekindle his love of the game and produce some of the best football of his career.

The Irish star signed an 18-month contract extension this week that will keep him at Rodney Parade until the end of the 2015/2016 season and he couldn’t be happier.

Byrne admits he had gone stale at former club Barnet and his gamble of rejecting a new deal in London and signing a six-month contract in Newport has now fully paid off.

“I’m delighted that it’s all signed and sealed,” said the 26-year-old, who previously played under Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh at Rushden & Diamonds.

“It was a bit of a gamble agreeing to the six-month deal in the summer but the gaffer knew me and told me not to worry.

“That was all the club could afford at the time but I’ve settled in well and I think it’s been some of the best football I’ve played.

“I’m pleased now to have the security of the 18 months and I’m really happy here.

“I wasn’t really happy at Barnet at the end,” he added.

“I think I stayed there too long and I needed a fresh challenge and I’m really enjoying my football again now.”

Byrne started alongside Adam Chapman in Tuesday’s reserve fixture at Portsmouth.

Having recovered from a hamstring problem he hopes to make his first start for the first team since the FA Cup defeat at Luton on November 8 when Stevenage visit Newport on Saturday.

“It was nice to get 90 minutes, which I really needed,” said Byrne.

“Now I’m looking forward to hopefully playing against Stevenage. It will be nice to play at Rodney Parade, which I haven’t done since October.

“We did a lot of miles in November and I missed the only home game against Exeter so it’s been a while.

“If we can beat Stevenage we’ll be in and around the top seven at Christmas and that puts you in a great position to challenge in the second half of the season.”

Byrne came off the bench in the wins at Bury and Carlisle United and he knows he’s got a battle on his hands to regain a starting spot.

Yan Klukowski has scored three goals in the past four games and he is also up against Chapman, Max Porter, Lee Minshull and Mike Flynn in the middle of the park.

“There is a lot of competition there and Yan has shown his quality,” said Byrne.

“He’s a goalscorer and that is the one thing I want to improve. I want to add more goals to my game and help us stay in the top seven.”