By Chris Bascombe
Defender Martin Kelly has today signed a new long-term deal at Anfield, ending several weeks of negotiation with the Academy graduate.
The 22-year-old, who broke into the senior England squad last season, is currently out with a knee injury but is seen as a potential mainstay of Brendan Rodgers’ defence in the future.
It is a timely deal for Liverpool as attention will naturally shift towards how to fill the void left by Carragher’s retirement in the summer.
Rodgers has spoken of the need to keep and introduce as many local youngsters at Anfield as possible, and Kelly has already made swift progress since making his debut in 2009. Only injury has prevented him from being more fully established in the starting eleven.
Kelly hasn’t featured for the first team since September when he suffered cruciate damage against Manchester United, but it is hoped he will return before the end of the season.
