TOWN defender Joe Devera believes the challenge of making the step up to League One football has made him a better player.

Having spent the majority of his career with Barnet before his move to the County Ground in 2011, the 25-year-old finally made the move to the third tier after the Robins’ League Two title triumph last season.

The Southgate-born player has been in and out of the side in the last few months, but when he has played he has coped well against the best League One has to offer, as well as facing the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Gabby Agbonlahor and Stephan Ireland in the Capital One Cup.

Devera put in his best display of the season against Walsall on Saturday, and is pleased to have finally made the step up.

“The standard is better, but I have concentrated on playing my game and taking it as it comes,” he said.

“Every team in the league has a good standard, where as in League Two there were four or five teams who were not really competing, but it is not like that in this league.

“It is important to be at your best every week in League Two, but in League One it is even more important because there are a lot more teams competing and it is harder to stay at the top.

“Playing Stoke and Villa was a massive challenge and a massive test for me, and they are probably the best players I have ever come up against.

“I think I did okay, but I learnt a fair bit and you have to be alert and remember how dangerous these players actually are.”

As well as being in and out of the side Devera has also had to cope with playing both at right-back and at centre-half, but the defender is just glad to be playing.

“I have been feeling comfortable, although I have moved around the back four, and I have been comfortable playing at centre-half as well,” he said. “I played a lot of games at right-back, although centre-back is my preferred position, but I am happy to play anywhere in defence.

“I would say I feel more comfortable at centre back, but I still feel comfortable at right-back as well.

“I don’t think the defence should be given all the credit for us looking solid, because as a team as a whole we are looking solid all over the pitch.

“It is hard (to be in and out if the side), but it is just as hard to stay in the team week in week out.

“You have to keep your focus and stay switched on all the time, and you have to make sure you know what is going on.

“For me personally I just try to concentrate and work hard at my own game rather than worrying about what is happening, and I just concentrate on myself.

“I will keep working hard, stay focused, and keep on it.”