Joel Lynch has committed his future to Huddersfield Town and will now remain at the John Smith's Stadium until 2017 after penning a new two-year agreement .
And during a close season in which the Terriers have been linked with a host of names in the transfer market, ensuring that a member of the current guard is retained should be considered good news all round for fans.
Defenders look set to be on the agenda for Town this summer as Mark Robins looks to offset the departures of Peter Clarke and Calum Woods, making it imperative that Town do not lose anymore of their present first-team squad setup.
Town's search for a right-back has seen Cyrus Christie, James Tavernier and centre-half-by-trade Craig Cathcart all be touted as potential candidates to fill the void and signing a central defender will only help in providing competition and hopefully spurring Anthony Gerrard and Lynch into a sustained run of form.
Robins certainly believes there is more to come from Lynch and, unlike some in the Town squad, he is certainly capable of filling in at numerous positions.
Left-sided central defenders are a precious commodity and the former Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest defender acts as a more than dependable deputy for Paul Dixon, Town's first-choice at left-back.
Retaining Lynch also ensures Town can concentrate efforts on adding further up the field as well as at the back, which may be argued as a more pressing area of concern to Town supporters.
He made 31 appearances in all competitions last term, underlining his increased standing in the first XI and he enjoyed some favourable statistics.
Lynch's speed across the ground is the perfect accompaniment to Gerrard's more rugged, combative style, allowing for the latter to attack the ball and the former to mop up all that his defensive partner is not able to deal with in the first instance.
It is a style which saw Lynch contribute the most interceptions of the two (59 v 58) and, while he does not possess the sheer brute strength aerially that Gerrard can boast (61.3% against 67.8% in aerial duel success) he is hardly adverse to out-jumping an opponent.
His ability to pick a pass also holds an appeal, particularly to Robins and the way he wants Town to play, even if at times last season the build-up play became ponderous and predictable.
Lynch has also proven across the last campaign that he is not one to shy away from making a tackle and was noticeably efficient in those that he attempted in 2013/2014, completing 84.8% from 33 tackles.
His desire to bring the ball out from the back and get forward is another string to his bow and something that allowed him to score twice last season, including a long-range screamer against Charlton Athletic that Town fans voted the goal of the season.
His adaptability, offensive work-rate and passing ability mark him out as the archetypal modern-day centre half, but it is not unfair to suggest Lynch is capable of reaching even bigger heights. His positional awareness and reading of the game have come under scrutiny.
The addition of another central defender - should Robins overlook the chance to promote Murray Wallace into true starting XI contention - could be the push Lynch requires to improve his game to another level and truly cement his place at the heart of Town's backline.
With Gerrard's vocal skills allied with his no-nonsense defensive style, the Liverpool-born stopper's place seems assured, Lynch's perhaps less so, particularly if Town were to identify a potential partner.
But ultimately, a new contract is symbolic of reward and Lynch is clearly highly thought of by Robins and the coaching staff, who are intent on grooming him into a top performer at this level.
At 25, and with international experience already under his belt, Town hold a true asset in their ranks.
It may not be Adam Clayton, who is in discussions over new terms with the club, whose name has been inked down for two more years but the club have shown proactivity in moving to tie Lynch - someone they clearly feel has the best years ahead of him - to the club and should be praised for doing so.
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