Town boss Kieran McKenna says centre-half Luke Woolfenden, who signed a new contract last week, is an important player who is “a representation” of the club’s progress from League One to the Premier League.

Woolfenden, 26, whose existing deal was up this summer, penned terms which will keep him at the club he joined as an 11-year-old until the summer of 2027, only a couple of months short of 10 years after he made his senior debut.

“We’re pleased,” McKenna said. “I think Luke’s both an important player for us for the here and now, he’s performed well this year in the opportunities and the games that he’s played in.

“And he’s also an important member of the squad and really a representation of the journey the club’s been on.

“With Harry [Clarke] being out on loan, Cameron [Humphreys] being out on loan, he’s the player who has been here the longest, the only one who has been through the academy and has that connection with the academy.

“But he has also been through the more difficult times here and has that context and can share that context with others in the position that we’re in now; some of the challenges we face now compared to some of the challenges that the club faced a few years ago.

“He’s both an important member of the team but an important member of the club and deserves his new contract, and I think he’s still improving, still developing.

“Centre-halves develop a little bit later sometimes and I think he’s still improving different aspects of his game and I’m sure he’s going to keep working to do so.”

Photo: Matchday Images

muccletonjoe added 16:14 - Feb 7 Yes he is a good defender. We have several. Find a partnership and stick to it.
3

Edmundo added 16:25 - Feb 7 He has definitely come on over the last 12 months. Even if we go down and have to sell a defender, it will be unlikely to be him. Still an even better defender to develop.
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Gforce added 17:01 - Feb 7 If by some miracle we manage to stay up,he will be sold in the summer, guaranteed.
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Bert added 17:11 - Feb 7 I agree, apart from dwelling too long on the ball, he has become a better player and has not looked out of place.
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TimmyH added 17:14 - Feb 7 What about Cam Burgess?...hasn't been part of the matchday squad for a number of games lately, a number of games before that he was our most consistent defender.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:06 - Feb 7 A view from someone who no longer attends live matches, largely due to health reasons, but has seen more than he can remember over the years, way back to 1963, and has still seen quite a few this season from the comfort of his sofa! Of course you don't get the full perspective sitting in front of a screen as you do attending live, but it's good enough. I believe LW to currently at least, be worth a starting place in our central defence. In my opinion, and it is an opinion, he's as good and reliable as JG, and better on the ball, though JG has possibly the greater improvement in him due to age. As stated somewhere above, central defenders tend to hit their peak somewhat later than players in a few positions. Just for an instance, take Van Dyke, at least as good as he's ever been if not better, at age 33. No, I'm not making a like for like comparison! Feel free to disagree in a friendly manner!

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Leejames99 added 21:00 - Feb 7 He will get better, Burgess in before him for me though
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PortmanTerrorist added 23:51 - Feb 7 I will keep saying this but the drop off (if there is one) in defending when Woolfy plays does not balance out his ability and calmness on the ball that has helped to start our build up play through his passing or strolling into midfield...and surely when we do more of that, we do less defending too. I accept it is difficult to see him displace (e.g.) O'Shea but I think we miss him when he is not on the pitch with our stilted build up play, esp when Muric is in goal. Particularly noticeable when we were chasing the game against Saints!

0

Bluewhiteboy added 09:05 - Feb 8 Ok squad player for championship but prime example why we find ourselves in relegation dog fight despite spending crazy amounts
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