This article is part of Football League World's 'Regular Punter' series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience...

Football League World's West Brom fan pundit Sarah Rudge has heaped praise on the club for moving to tie exciting youngster Nathan Ferguson down to a new long-term deal.

The Express and Star reported the news on Wednesday night and with past youngsters being poached easily from the Baggies, Rudge is eager to not see that happen again.

"We have already lost some of our promising academy players including Morgan Rogers to Manchester City and Louie Barry to Barcelona," the regular punter told Football League World.

"It is vitally important we tie down our youngsters to extended contracts especially with Ferguson entering the final year of his deal.

"He has been outstanding so far this season both at right-back and left-back and performed incredibly for someone of his age. He will be vital for us for the rest of the season and hopefully for many more years to come."

So far this season, the 18-year-old has played in seven of the club's eight Championship matches, playing on both the right of defence, his preferred role, and the left.

He has been filling in for the injured Kieran Gibbs in recent weeks, but Rudge expects that even when the more experienced full-back is back to full health, Ferguson's presence will remain.

"He has started in seven of our eight games so far and I expect that regularity to continue," she said.

"With the injury to Kieran Gibbs he has deputised brilliantly and it will be a real tussle between him and Furlong should Gibbs be reinstated into the left-back position.

"We are currently blessed with quality full-backs and that kind of competition can only be of benefit for us for the rest of the season."