LOCALLY produced Paul Dummett is targeting being a permanent fixture of the Newcastle United defence for years to come after signing a new contract with the club he supported as a boy.

The 26-year-old left-back, who was born in Newcastle, has been a key part of the Magpies' improved fortunes recently and has penned a new deal that could run to the summer of 2022.

Dummett has been with Newcastle since the age of nine and has made more than 100 appearances.

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."

Dummett made his senior debut for Newcastle in January 2013 after successful loans with Gateshead and St Mirren.

He was a virtual ever-present as Rafa Benitez’s side won the Championship title last season.

Benítez said: “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.”