New deal keeps Dummett with Magpies until 2022

NEWCASTLE United have handed a bumper four-year deal to Paul Dummett.

The left-back has been in talks with the Magpies over a new contract for a few months but the deal was confirmed yesterday.

Dummett made his first-team debut for United in 2013 and while he does split opinion within the club’s fanbase, he has been a regular under four managers in Alan Pardew, John Carver, Steve McClaren and now Rafa Benitez.

Benitez said yesterday: “If you talk about players that are important for the team, normally people talk about goalscorers, midfielders and number tens but in modern football, there are not too many consistent left-sided full-backs.

“Paul is exactly that; he understands the game and you know what you can expect from him week in, week out.

“That’s important when you have a lot of big games. He’s a player you can trust. “He was unlucky to miss the first four months of the season through injury, but he’s a player who is quick to learn and knows his job really well. “His return has given us more competition in a position where we did not have too much before, so we’re really pleased to keep him.” Dummett told NUFC TV: “It’s my boyhood club and I’ve been a supporter for many years so to extend my stay at the club for even longer is really important to me. “I’ve always wanted to stay here and the manager and the club have wanted to keep me so I’m really pleased to have signed the new contract and hopefully there are many more years to come.”