Karen Bardsley says she still relishes the challenge of playing for Manchester City and feels there is no better place to continue her development after agreeing a one-year contract extension.

The deal keeps the goalkeeper at the Academy Stadium until the summer of 2022, stretching her commitment to the Club into an eighth season.

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Bardsley has won every honour in the English game and, at the age of 36, is one of the most experienced players in Gareth Taylor’s side, but her desire to improve remains as strong as ever.

This season she will once again face competition from Ellie Roebuck for the number one spot, but she admits she would prefer to have such a challenge than to have moved into an environment she found more comfortable.

“I always find a few things I certainly think I have to work on and this is arguably the best place for it, in terms of our methodology and the way we want to play the game,” she told mancity.com.

“I like that perpetual challenge. That’s something I want to continue to develop.

“I think City have a really unique way of seeing the game and I really like that and it challenges my learning. That’s something I also really enjoy.

“I don’t want to go somewhere and be comfortable, that’s not me.

“The whole point of being here is to support the development and the progress and ultimately what we want to achieve is just winning trophies and being good role models in the community.”