Jordan Lyden recently signed a contract extension at Villa Park until June 2019.
Roberto Di Matteo has hailed the progress of Jordan Lyden two days after the 20-year-old penned a two-year contract extension at the club.
With a cloud hanging over the head of another talented youngster in Jack Grealish, Di Matteo told the Birmingham Mail that he was enthused by the progress of Lyden, who made six appearances for the club last season.
The Australian midfielder would have been free to leave the club for nothing at the end of the season had he not signed the extension, so the former Chelsea boss was delighted to secure his services until 2019.
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Di Matteo said “We want to keep watching his development and see how good he can become. We wanted to extend his contract and keep him here.”
Lyden moved to the club’s academy in 2012 at the age of 16 and received his first call-up to the senior side in December of last year.
While the club have struggled to come to terms with life in the second tier, Lyden has still found it difficult to break into the first team and is yet to make an appearance under Di Matteo.
The club are 18th in the table after a slow start, which has seen them drop seven points from winning positions. They welcome Newcastle United to Villa Park this weekend and will be looking to record a first win in eight and only a second since February.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
