Manchester City : Defensive duo

Manchester City have secured defensive duo Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha to new contracts.

Republic of Ireland international Dunne has been in the form of his life this season, forming a solid partnership with Sylvain Distin which has shored up City's notoriously leaky defence.

Caretaker boss Stuart Pearce was over the moon with the 25-year-old defender's decision to extend this stay at the City of Manchester Stadium.

"We are delighted Richard has signed," he told the club's website. "From my own point of view it's great that I am the man in charge when he turns around and says he wants to stay at this football club.

"It reflects solely on the club but it is nice to have a player not thinking to himself "is that fella still going to be here".

"He has performed exceptionally well this year and is one of our top three there is no doubt about that. Richard has signed a contract that he thoroughly deserves and it of course sends out a signal. The more players who want to stay at this football club the better it is for us."

Onuoha has been an ever-present in the Blues line-up since Pearce replaced Keegan, ousting Danny Mills from the City side.

He has long been regarded as a player of major promise and it was only last November the 18-year-old Nigerian-born defender signed a two-year contract.

However, such has been Onuoha's progress since the New Year that City officials felt it was wise to tie the youngster down to an extended three-year contract.