Hammers defender signs new deal

3:25pm Monday 17th November 2008

WEST Ham defender Johnathan Spector has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the club that will keep him at Upton Park until 2011, according to reports.

The utility player has been sidelined since April with a hip injury.

But, despite not yet seeing him in action, Irons boss Gianfranco Zola is confident the American can still have a big role to play for the team.

Spector, who was first brought to these shores by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, spent a season-long loan deal at Charlton Athletic before signing for the Hammers in the summer of 2006.

He has since made 55 appearances for the East Londoners, although his career at Upton Park had seemingly been cast in doubt following his lengthy injury lay-off.