Derby County boss Steve McClaren has said that goalkeeper Scott Carson is fully deserving of his new contract at the East Midlands club.

The Rams announced on Thursday that the former England international had been handed a fresh deal after keeping 13 clean sheets from 23 outings this season.

Carson has now made 59 league appearances since joining the Rams in June 2015, and McClaren has admitted that he is delighted to have secured the player's future until 2019.

He told the club's official website: "It's great news that Scott has signed a new contract and a real boost too.

"I saw Scott join the club from afar. I thought it was a great move for him and I have seen him develop. I don't know what you would have to pay for a goalkeeper of his quality right now, but it would cost us fortunes to replace him.

"If someone does well for the team, reward them. That's a strength of Derby County Football Club, who have always done that and rewarded their players for doing well."

Derby currently sit in seventh place in the league table, just one point below the playoffs.