Nottingham Forest's Luke Chambers says he considered leaving after failing to win a regular place last season.Centre-half Chambers, 25, only played a total of 20 matches in 2009-10 - many of them out of position - but he has started all but three games this term.
"I didn't play enough last season," he told BBC Radio Nottingham. "But this season has been the best of my career.
"I had a think about leaving. It would have been easy to try pastures new, but I'm not that sort of guy."
Last season Chambers found himself behind Kelvin Wilson in the pecking order at centre-back. And, when he did play, he often ended up filling in at full-back.
But the former Northampton defender has already started more games this term - 21 - than in the entire 2009-10 campaign.
And he said that vindicates his decision to fight for his place at the City Ground.
"If something is not going my way then I will work my damnedest to get to the position I want to be," said Chambers. "And I was never in a position where I wanted to walk away from the challenge."
His hard work has certainly been rewarded, Chambers having played a key role in Forest's rise to seventh in the Championship table.
The Reds have the second best defensive record in the division heading into Saturday's home game against Portsmouth, Chambers having also chipped in with three goals in the last five games.
And, with Wilson looking likely to join Celtic, Chambers looks to have won the battle to partner Wes Morgan in the heart of the Forest defence.
"The season last year finished on a terrible low," added Chambers, "getting nothing out of it and losing in the semi-finals of the play-offs.
"I'm playing week in, week out at the minute and I'm getting the performances that I know I can produce at a consistent level - so I'm more than happy.
"As long as I am putting the performances in, then I should be staying in the side. It's in my hands to make the gaffer not want to change things.
"That's all I can do and I have just been keep concentrating every day in training to try to keep the levels I have been setting myself."
This season has been stark contrast to last term, which Chambers recalls as one of the worst times of his short career.
"It was very, very difficult," said Chambers. "I have not had that experience in my career so far. It really tested me at the time.
"I wasn't happy in any aspect. I was in a low rut. It was difficult to come to training every day and get to the weekend and know you were not going to be in the side and that you were going to be sitting there watching.
"That was one of the most difficult times of my career but thankfully it's all forgotten about now.
"Football is about highs and lows and I seem to be on quite a high at the minute.
"I had a little think about leaving during the summer but I thought I had to come back and keep doing the things I always have done and always believed in."
And through all the difficult moments, Chambers said a solid bond with manager Billy Davies has helped him tremendously.
"The gaffer has always been really, really complimentary," Chambers said.
"My relationship with him has never been weak. It's a good relationship. He always gave me the backing. It was just unfortunate that I could not get a consistent run in the side with the boys doing really well.
"But he has rewarded me this year and thankfully I have stayed in the side."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport