Veteran duo extend Derby stays by a further season

Zach Holland

Darren Bent: Extends deal with Rams

Derby pair Darren Bent and Chris Baird have had their contracts at Pride Park extended.

The Sky Bet Championship club has announced that clauses will be exercised within the players’ contracts to extend their deals by a further 12 months to the summer of 2018.

Striker Bent, 33, signed a two-year contract in the summer of 2015 following a loan spell from Aston Villa towards the end of the 2014-15 season.

The former England international has scored 13 times this season, taking his tally to 28 goals in 83 Derby appearances.

Former Northern Ireland international Baird has made 51 appearances for Derby since joining from West Brom in the summer of 2015.

The 35-year-old can playing anywhere across the back four, although the majority of his 35 appearances this season have come at right-back.

The news will be welcomed by fans as they look to push for the playoffs or even automatic promotion in the coming seasons.