New Villa deal for Gardner

Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner has signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at Villa Park until 2012.

The 21-year-old first signed professional terms at the club in 2005 and made 25 appearances for Villa last season, including 15 starts in the Barclays Premier League.

He becomes the fourth player Villa player to renew his contract this summer after Wilfred Bouma, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor also signed new deals at the club.