Gary Rowett says Craig Forsyth thoroughly deserves his new contract with Derby County.
The 28-year-old left-back was due to be out of contract at the end of the current campaign, but he has now put pen-to-paper on fresh terms.
Forsyth, who joined Derby from Watford in 2013 following an initial loan, has agreed a deal which will run until the summer of 2020.
The defender has courageously battled back from two serious long-term injuries in recent seasons to establish himself in Rowett’s backline with some impressive and consistent performances.
He has made 19 appearances so far this season and pulled on a Derby shirt for the 150th time in the 0-0 draw at Hull City on Boxing Day.
The Rams’ boss believes the Scotland international has proved both on and off the field that he is worthy of his new deal.
Rowett feels not only does Forsyth offer ‘a little bit of everything’ as a full-back, but also believes that he exemplifies the type of character he wants within the Derby dressing room.
He told RamsTV: “Fozzy has been at the club for a while and his recent performances have certainly merited a new deal. I’ve been really pleased with him and he is a good character as well.
“You want players in the building that are going to maximise their potential and give everything for the team. Craig is a very unselfish player and character so that’s the type of person I want around the club - and he has shown he is more than good enough to be part of our team.
“He has been a bit behind in some ways after being out with two long-term injuries in the last few years, but we felt it was only fair to reward him for what he’s done. Coming back to full fitness, it can take a little longer than the period of time that he has been back in the team.
“I think he’s got a little bit of everything and has some very good attributes. He has shown defensively he is improving – he is solid, a great size and has a good physique – and when he strides forward he can get himself into some great positions.”
He added: “I’m really pleased to get this deal done and hopefully it’s the first of one or two others.”
Forsyth started Derby’s first two games of the campaign after coming through pre-season training unscathed, following a second anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in as many seasons, before going on to have a spell out of the side.
Rather than showing a negative reaction and displaying disappointment, the former Dundee player approached Rowett about the possibility of playing for Derby’s Under-23s to improve his sharpness and match fitness.
It has proved to be a decision which has benefitted Forsyth in the long-run, as he has featured in all but one of the Rams’ Sky Bet Championship fixtures since returning to the side towards the end of September.
Rowett said: “Craig does the right things day-in-day-out and that’s the type of person we want around the club for a lot longer.
“At the start of the season he came out of the team for a spell and, during that time, he asked to play for the Under-23s.
“He doesn’t see the Under-23s as beneath him and he also asks to do extra work after training. He is a diligent lad and if you ask the medical staff, they will tell you he has come back from injury in such good shape because he’s done everything right.
“That is, a hundred per cent, the type of character that we want around. Of course, that type of person has to be good enough to fit the technical side of what we want to do and Craig has shown that as well.”