United secure new Brown contract

Manchester United confirmed this morning that defender Wes Brown will be signing a new five year contract with the club.

Brown made a steady start to his full international career last night in the 1-1 draw with Hungary and he has been rated as a future England regular since his United debut as a an 18 year old. The player is another product of the highly successful United youth system - having cost no transfer fee he would easily command £7 million on the transfer market at the moment.

United will face Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford as they attempt to overhaul Arsenal at the top of the Premiership. Ehiogu has recovered much earlier than expected from a cheekbone fracture suffered at the end of January. He is still regarded as part of the England set up under new coach Kevin Keegan and Villa's league form dipped alarmingly in his absence.