Midfielder Delighted With Magpies' Deal

By Matt Jones
December 21 2005

19-year-old Matty Pattison is delighted to sign a new contract at Newcastle United having recovered from two serious knee injuries - keeping him at the club until 2008. Pattison, from Johannesburg, joins Academy defender Paul Huntington - who signed a similar deal earlier this year.

Speaking to the club's official website, Pattison said: "It's a great day for me to sign this contract.

"I'd like to pay great thanks to all the people who have supported me along the way, particularly the physios and my agent. Their support has been so important.

"I was always determined to come back from the injuries. I knew it would be hard work and I've been out for a long time, but I was always determined to get back.

"I'd been involved with the first team at Celtic just before the first injury and loved that. Hopefully I can now go on and have a good season and try to get into a couple of senior squads - that's the aim.