Bentley signs new contract with Blackburn

27 February 2007 15:38

Blackburn Rovers' David Bentley (L) tackles Bayer Leverkusen's Marko Babic during their UEFA Cup match on February 22. Bentley has been rewarded for his outstanding form for Blackburn this season with a new contract that ties him to the club until 2011.

LONDON (AFP) - David Bentley has been rewarded for his outstanding form for Blackburn this season with a new contract that ties him to the club until 2011.

Bentley, 22, has missed only one first-team game this season and scored six goals as Blackburn have attempted to develop a more attacking style under manager Mark Hughes.

"David has really blossomed this season to produce a consistently high level of performance," Hughes said after the new deal was announced. "He is a great talent with a big future and we are delighted to have signed him up for the long term."

Bentley, a former captain of England's under-18s and an under-21 international, started his career at Arsenal but moved to Blackburn in January last year after growing frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities in north London.

Rovers chairman John Williams said the Bentley deal was a sign of Blackburn's ambition.

"David is widely regarded as one of the best young footballers in the country and this represents a very significant deal for the club, underpinning our determination to continue to move forward with ambition."