Young defender Luke Woolfenden has signed a new contract at Portman Road.

The 18-year-old only signed his first professional contract in the summer, but after impressing in the early part of the season has been rewarded with fresh terms which will keep him at Portman Road until 2019, with the option of a further 12 months.

Woolfenden made his professional debut in the Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season, before making his first start in the following round against Crystal Palace, where he impressed so much that our Ipswich Town writer Stuart Watson made him man of the match in a 2-1 defeat.

He can play either centre-back or right-back and joined the Town academy in 2013.

After the Palace game, boss Mick McCarthy lauded the effort of his youngsters, adding: “Woolfy was great.”