Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed that the club have tabled a new contract for Wales Under-21 left-back Paul Dummett.
The 22-year-old, who has spent time on loan at Gateshead and St Mirren, has given a good account of himself in the Magpies' first team this season, and even got on the scoresheet in the recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
An extension to the one-year deal he signed this summer has been mooted for a few weeks, although Pardew said that he is unsure when the situation will be resolved.
"We have a deal in place for Paul that we have talked about," Sky Sports News quotes the 52-year-old as saying. "That has been talked about for a while.
"Whether it gets resolved in the next week or so - I don't know."
When asked about his availability for this weekend's clash with Chelsea, Pardew replied: "He has an injury that will rule him out on Saturday.
"We don't think it is too bad but is a shame because we really love him and he's on the crest of a wave."
Dummett came through the youth ranks at St James' Park.
Michael Penkman
