Mark Gower delighted with Swansea contract extension

Mark Gower has impressed new Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers

Swansea City midfielder Mark Gower has signed a one-year contract extension with the high-flying Championship side.

The 32-year-old Tottenham product joined Swansea from Southend United in June 2008 as a winger but has impressed this season in a more central role.

His new deal will keep Gower at Swansea until the end of the 2011/12 season.

"I'm in the last year of my contract and luckily I've started the season really well and the manager [Brendan Rodgers] has rewarded me," Gower said.

"I've just signed a new contract, so at least this season and another season to carry on playing for Swansea."

Gower has impressed new boss Rodgers and put in another fine performance in Sunday's south Wales derby win at Cardiff City.

"At the start of the season I wasn't sure what sort of role I had to play," Gower said.

"There was a lot of wide players at the club and a lot of good players, so I was a little bit worried because I don't want to be a squad player, I want to be part of a team.

"But with the move inside it's corresponded with me playing a lot of games and getting some... quality time on the pitch and in the end I was delighted to sign."

The manager earns his money in these types of situations, bringing the players back down to earth Swansea midfielder Mark Gower

Swansea cemented third place in the Championship with the weekend 1-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium, closing the gap on the Bluebirds in second to three points.

But Gower says that the players will not be resting on their laurels, as they return to action on Wednesday night at home to Bristol City before facing Middlesbrough next Sunday, also at the Liberty Stadium.

"The manager earns his money in these types of situations, bringing the players back down to earth and then getting us ready for the next game," Gower added.

"There's two tough games at home this week and we'll be looking to get maximum points.

"The boys will be working as hard as they were on Sunday to try and get the victory.

"You look at the table and you look at current form and rightly so we'd be expected to win but Bristol City are a good side and... they won't be taken lightly."