Colchester United centre-half Frankie Kent has this afternoon signed a new contract.

Kent has penned a new deal, which extends his stay at the Essex club for a further two-and-a-half-years, up to the end of the 2019-20 season.

A product of the U’s Academy, Kent is currently sidelined by an ankle injury, but he remains very much in the long-term plans of manager John McGreal.

“It’s all worked out well, and I see this as another stepping stone for me,” explained Kent.

“I’ve come up through the youth system and the Academy, and I’ve gradually established myself in the first team.

“So I think it’s the right thing to do, to sign this new contract.

“It gives me some security, which is important. That was a major part of me signing this new deal,” added Kent.

The U’s are at home to Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday.