Brian Easton has signed a two year extension with St Johnstone.
And his manager believes the club have kept hold of one of the best left-backs in Scottish football.
The former Hamilton, Burnley and Dundee defender has been a consistent performer since arriving from Dens in the summer of 2013, and the player himself believes he’s producing the best football of his career.
Tommy Wright said: “Brian has signed a two-year extension and I’m delighted. We’ve got a few out of contract and we’re working through them.
“Brian has kicked on from last season, his fitness level and consistency have been a lot better, and I don’t think there are too many better left-backs in the league than him.
“He likes it at the club and we’re really pleased to get him tied up. We’re working on others. We’ve got seven or eight in the same situation but we don’t sit down en masse.
“It can be frustrating for one or two but they know how the club works.
“There’s one or two who maybe need to do a bit more to play themselves into a contract which is no bad thing for a manager.
“We were criticised last season because there seemed to be a lack of activity but we’re doing our business to make sure we have as little work to do in the summer, with one in already in Brad McKay.”
For Easton, staying with Saints, with whom he has won a Scottish Cup and played in Europe, was always his first choice.
“It was all done quite quickly after being mentioned a few weeks ago,” he explained.
“I was keen to get it done and get on with the football.
“It was an easy decision for me. This is probably the happiest I have been playing football and the most settled since I was coming through the ranks at Hamilton.
“It’s a great set of lads here and a great coaching staff to work under. And we have been doing well over the last couple of years.
“A few of the lads have already signed extended deals and that is important. When I saw players being signed up I was happy because we need continuity here and you know they will be with us next season.
“You want to keep this squad we’ve got together. I’m sure a few more lads will sign new contracts to keep them here and the gaffer will try to add a player or two. We have good lads and good characters in the dressing room.”
Easton added: “I have been really happy with my own form, apart from that wee run we went on when we lost five or six in a row. No one was happy with that.
“But we bounced back from that spell.
“It’s disappointing we are out of the cup now but we still have targets to meet and there is plenty to play for over the next few weeks.”
A win against Celtic would certainly be a fine way to mark his new deal.
“We have a tough challenge against Celtic at the weekend,” Easton noted. “That was always going to be a hard game and their new lads had a good start against Partick Thistle. Armstrong and Mackay-Steven are good signings for them.
“We will need to show up and be right up for it on Saturday. Hopefully we can have a go at them at home and produce a good result. No one is going into the game expecting to get beaten.
“They haven’t been losing goals and that’s Celtic for you. They have a great goalkeeper with a top back four in front of him. They will keep the ball for spells but you do get chances against them and it’s about taking them.
“Because you know if they get chances they make the most of them. They are clinical. That’s how they win games.”