Aston Villa have triggered a one-year extension in goalkeeper Jed Steer’s contract.

The 26-year-old was due to be out of contract in the summer, but the Express and Star is reporting that a clause was activated in January when the stopper returned to Villa Park.

Steer was on loan at League One Charlton Athletic at the start of the campaign and was recalled in the new year.

It was then when the additional one-year was taken up by the club in the wake of the injury to Orjan Nyland, and the same fate has also befallen January signing Lovre Kalinic.

It means Steer has started the last five matches for Villa, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Having had an abundance of bad luck and injuries himself, it is the longest spell in goal for the senior side the goalkeeper has had since his move to the Midlands six years ago.

Nyland’s arrival in the summer looked as if it had spelt the end of Steer’s time at Villa with a League One loan approved – and with Kalinic coming in January, all hope seemed lost.

But after bad luck and several injuries, the goalkeeper is now one of the main men at Villa Park after a string of impressive, consistent performances to help reinvigorate the club’s play-off push.

So, is it a good move by Aston Villa to trigger an extension to what was the expiring contract of Steer?

We asked our panel of FLW writers their thoughts on the decision by the Championship outfit…

Jacob Potter

“I'm not sure this is the right idea.

“Steer is a good option to have but won't be anywhere near the starting XI when Nyland returns from injury.

“Surely his wages are better spent elsewhere?”

Gary Hutchinson

“Absolutely, he’s a competent keeper, no doubt.

“He’s only back up, and that might worry him.

“At some point, he has to break out and become a first team player somewhere.”

Jay Taylor

“It’s fully deserved.

“Steer hasn’t had the best of luck since moving to Villa.

“His recent form shows there is a solid keeper standing in for Kalinic – and he has proven a worthy replacement.

“Worth the year extension for the last five games alone.”