NATHANIEL CLYNE is close to signing a new contract with Crystal Palace having proven his body can still withstand the demands of Premier League football.
Clyne’s short-term deal at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the month having been handed a career life-line when injuries left Roy Hodgson without a right-back.
Crystal Palace right-back Nathaniel Clyne is set to sign a contract extension at Selhurt ParkCredit: Getty – Pool
And the 29-year-old has done enough to show he can still mix it at the highest level.
So he will be putting pen to paper on a new deal which is understood to be beyond the end of the current campaign.
Clyne has featured in nine top-flight games since returning to his former employers in October – chipping in with one assist.
And speaking ahead of Thursday’s clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, Hodgson declared the ex-Liverpool ace is close to penning a new deal.
The Eagles boss, 73, said: “I think Nathaniel Clyne is just about to sign a deal with us.
“I think that problem, if you like, is not a problem because I’m led to believe we’re very close to Nathaniel signing something.
“There are a lot of other players who are out of contract at the end of the year and there doesn’t appear to be a clear decision made whether or not to offer them a new contract.
“These are discussions going on behind the scenes with some intensity between Doug Freedman, the player and his agent.
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“We signed Nathan Ferguson because we already had one right-back at the club and that’s been the case for quite a period of time.
“It had been an enormous burden on Joel Ward and how well he’s done, in terms of that if he doesn’t play we don’t have the right person who can go in his place.
“Nathan came to us injured and pictured up another bad injury. So it was quite vital for us to get someone who could compete with Joel and play if he wasn’t available.
“Nathaniel has done that with flying colors really. Our only doubt about him was how fit he was going to be.
“Is he going to be the Nathaniel Clyne that I knew, playing for England and Crystal palace? That’s exactly what he has been.
“He has done exceptionally well and I’m delighted, of course, that the club have been able to see their way to negotiating a new contract with him.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
