Matt Turner enjoyed a winning debut with English Premier League side Crystal Palace on Wednesday and the American is now turning his attention towards a positive future with the South London club.

Turner, who joined on a season-long loan spell from Nottingham Forest last summer, got the nod from manager Oliver Glasner to start in Palace’s eventual 2-1 EFL Cup Round of 16 victory over Aston Villa. The veteran goalkeeper overcame a rough start to make eight saves as the Eagles advanced to December’s quarterfinal round.

After not playing a competitive club match in eight months, Turner got to savor a victory with his Palace teammates, picking up a win in one of England’s more daunting atmospheres in Villa Park. Turner appreciated Glasner’s faith in him and admitted his hard work in training helped him contribute to Palace’s road victory in Birmingham.

“Obviously, being a loan player is new to me,” Turner said in a club interview. “It’s not really that common for Americans in MLS to have lots of loans and things like that. To be here, and the way I was received by the fans, the players in the dressing room, more importantly, and the coach and the staff and to be rewarded for my hard work.

“I think the gaffer has said publicly in front of the team that it was earned, not given,” he added. “I’ve been working hard in training, so it’s nice to see the results of that and get what I feel like I deserved in terms of that, and to continue to push. So it feels really good to have represented this football club. I’m looking forward to many, many more [games] and some more good memories.”

Now with a likely return to the bench as Premier League play continues this weekend, Turner will have to wait until December’s quarterfinal showdown with his former club Arsenal to see the field again at club level.