Gareth McAuley happy to wait for new deal

West Bromwich Albion Albion defender Gareth McAuley today insisted he is relaxed about his future as he looks to earn an extended stay at The Hawthorns.

moreWest Bromwich Albion Albion defender Gareth McAuley today insisted he is relaxed about his future as he looks to earn an extended stay at The Hawthorns.

The Northern Ireland international's contract expires at the end of this season but the Baggies have an option to extend it for a further year.

And McAuley, who has made an impressive start to his second season at the club, insists he is content to wait to discover what his future holds.

"I've got one more year and the club have an option," said McAuley, who got his first taste of Premier League football last season after being signed by Albion from Ipswich at the age of 31.

"But I'm not thinking about that now, I'm just enjoying playing football and taking every day as it comes."

And the 32-year-old revealed he is relishing his belated chance to prove himself in the top flight, having taken until he was 24 to step up from part-time football in Northern Ireland to the professional ranks with Lincoln.

"Maybe I wasn't ready when I was younger," he said. "I came into football late. I was thankful to get the start in the league I was in but I was always pushing myself and trying to get high as I could.

"When I was in the Championship, I always thought I would get to this level through promotion."