The good news for Aston Villa keeps coming, this time, off the pitch with a contract extension for one player.

Jed Steer has agreed to a new one-year deal with the club, according to the Express and Star, who say that it was in January when a clause came into effect.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper had been on loan at Charlton Athletic during the early part of the season, and upon arrival back at Villa Park, the added 12-months were triggered.

Steer was out of contract in the summer, but with the injury to Lovre Kalinic, he has managed to have a prolonged spell in the first-team – his longest since moving to the club six years ago.

Having started the previous five Championship games, the keeper has kept three clean sheets to reinvigorate Villa’s play-off hopes.

The verdict

After bad luck and several injury problems, it seems as if Steer has managed to force his way into the reckoning finally, and the new deal is a testament to his recent form and application.

It seemed as if he would be out of the club come the end of the season having been loaned out to the League One side when Orjan Nyland was signed.

With Kalinic picking up an injury, and too, Nyland, Steer became the main man in goal – and has not disappointed.

It’s been some turnaround and he has had a hand in Villa breaking into the top-six after most of the season away from it.