Niki Maenpaa has revealed he weighed up offers from abroad before signing a new deal to stay at Albion in the summer.
The Finland goalkeeper made his long-awaited Championship debut in the 3-0 victory over Rotherham at the Amex on Tuesday night.
He looks certain to play at least one of the next two away games, at Reading and Oxford United after impressing as a replacment for the injured David Stockdale .
Maenpaa said: “I want to play so there were some options in the summer but I was really delighted to sign here.
“I am really happy here and I will just keep on doing my everyday work.”
Stockdale is in contention to be fit for the trip to Reading on Saturday but boss Chris Hughton admitted Maenpaa’s performance has given him food for thought.
Maenpaa preserved Albion’s clean sheet in the second half when he flung himself to his left to push away Will Vaulk’s dipping, swerving long-range effort.
He added: “I have been waiting for the chance for a long time.
“David had a scan on Monday morning and, in the afternoon, I got the feeling I would be able to play. He wished me luck before the game and said ‘clean sheet!’.
“I was quietly confident in the warm-up.
“I think I did well – I think the whole team did really good. The last 15 or 20 minutes wasn’t that good from our side but a clean sheet was a plus.
“The most important thing is we won.”
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