manchester united tie down defender paddy mcnair with a new deal

London - Manchester United's teenage defender Paddy McNair has signed a new contract tying him to Old Trafford until June 2017, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old

Northern Irishman has broken into the United first-team squad under manager Louis van Gaal and has made 12 appearances to date this season, playing in central defence and at right-back.

"Paddy has risen through the ranks to become an integral part of the first-team squad. He has all the attributes to develop into a top player," Van Gaal said in a statement on the United website.

"Promoting youth players is very important both to myself and to the club and I am delighted Paddy has signed a new contract."