BRISTOL Rovers believe Newport's Rollin Menayese has the hunger for more after rewarding the defender for a breakthrough season.

The 22-year-old centre back has signed for at least another 12 months with Rovers after forcing his way into the first team in 2019/20.

After learning his trade on loan spells with Aldershot and Swindon Town, Menayese featured prominently in the first half of the campaign.

Starts weren't as frequent under manager Ben Garner, who took the reins in December, but the boss believes the Welshman has great promise and has signed him up for another season.

"Rollin's development has been helped over the past 12 months by a significant amount of first-team appearances and that has been rewarded with this new contract," said the manager, whose team were 14th when the season was suspended because of coronavirus.

"Rollin is a young defender with the hunger and potential to make further progress in his career."

South Wales Argus:

Menayese, from Duffryn, was on the books of Cardiff City as a youngster and moved to Weston-Super-Mare after being released by the Bluebirds.

The Wales Under-17s international was soon spotted by Rovers and he made his debut for the club in the EFL Trophy in 2017.

Menayese believes he has reaped the rewards of going out for game time in the National League with Aldershot and League Two with Swindon.

"I'm delighted to sign a new deal with Bristol Rovers," he said. "I have enjoyed the development the club has given me over the past few seasons and I'm looking forward to progressing further in the future."

Former St Julian's pupil Menayese faced Newport County with Swindon in April 2018, although it wasn't a happy return home with a dismissal for two yellow cards in a 2-1 loss at Rodney Parade.

Exiles boss Michael Flynn revealed that he had considering moving for the defender before he signed for the Robins.

"I spoke to Rollin's agent and if Ben White had have gone back I probably would have taken him, or tried to take him," said Flynn in February, 2018.

"He was on my radar but as soon as I knew Ben (White, who was on loan from Brighton) was staying I didn't need another right-sided defender."

Rovers and County will find out how their respective seasons will end on Tuesday at a meeting of English Football League clubs.

They will vote on a framework put forward by the EFL board, which includes keeping promotion, relegation and the play-offs.

Those in League Two, including County, have indicated that they wish to end the season but the mood in League One is split.

County haven't played since March 10 - they sat 12 points off the play-offs - and Flynn, his coaching staff and players were furloughed in April.