Toby Savin said playing in empty stadiums has been a "nice little settler" in his breakthrough season at Accrington Stanley

The young Reds keeper has had a campaign to remember capped by a man-of-the-match performance at Portsmouth on Sunday and is now looking forward to exciting times ahead.

The 20-year-old started and finished the season as the Reds number one – after Chelsea loanee Nathan Baxter suffered a season-ending injury – making a total of 35 league and cup appearances.

“It has been a roller-coaster of emotions,” Savin told the club website. “Looking back, it has been a brilliant season to have done it at such a young age, starting at 19.

“Starting the season and finishing the season with 30-odd games under my belt, I’m happy.

He added: “I think exciting things are happening, all the big teams coming in and hopefully the big crowds coming back and playing in front of big crowds.”

The Ormskirk-born shot-stopper said playing without fans is something he is used to – having played much of his football at academy level – but is now looking forward to playing in front of supporters.

He said: “It feels like friendlies every week, nothing that I wasn’t used to, growing up through the academies, but it is a nice little settler in to the first team football and hopefully I can push on and when the big crowds do come in, I can settle in nicely.”

Savin said the step up to first-team action has been made all the more smooth thanks to the help of Stanley boss John Coleman and his coaching staff.

“John has helped loads,” he added. “All the staff, especially Tony (Warner) my keeper trainer and Lewis (Stewart), they have always had my back and have always been there for me.

“And if is wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.”