McNaughton pens new Cardiff deal

Cardiff City defender Kevin McNaughton has signed a contract extension, the Premier League strugglers have announced.

The 31-year-old full-back joined Cardiff from Aberdeen in 2006 and helped the club clinch promotion from the Championship back in May.

McNaughton, currently Cardiff’s longest-serving player, was in the final months of the one-year deal he agreed last July and has hinted that he has signed for a further 12 months.

The Scotland international has made 291 appearances for the club and is thrilled to extend his stay in the Welsh capital.

“I think I’m part of the furniture now, I’ve been here a while. It’s great really to look forward to another season at the club,” he told Cardiff’s official website.

“When I first came we were playing at Ninian Park and everything has changed since then with excellent training facilities and the stadium. Obviously now we’re a Premier League football team, (and) looking to stay there.”

McNaughton’s future at Cardiff had been cast in doubt after he enjoyed a loan spell at Championship side Bolton Wanderers earlier in the campaign, where he made 13 league appearances.

He has made four Premier League appearances since returning, however, and Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the professional attitude displayed by the defender is imperative to the squad.

He added: “For a manager it’s perfect to have a player like Kevin in the squad. He keeps the standard up and you know he’ll always bring the upmost professionalism and attitude to his game and to the team.

“He fully deserves his extended deal.”