Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with Jonny Evans' new contract.

Ferguson expects Jonny Evans to be a mainstay in the Manchester United defence for the next 10 years after the centre back signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the Old Trafford club.

"Jonny Evans has signed a new contract. We're very happy about that and it's in keeping with our normal policy that when the younger players get to the second last year of their contract we have to do something about it," Ferguson said.

"He's had a fantastic career for us, progressing all the time. He's had one or two injury situations that are hopefully behind him now. He's fit for Sunday's game [against Swansea].

"He fought his way in with his performances last year and when him and Rio played consistently our results improved. We spoke about losing the goals against Manchester City and the leaking of goals at that particular time and those two playing regularly and improved that.

"Jonny has been with us since he was a kid. When he was 12 he was at our school of excellence in Belfast and he always had a talent. When he was younger I wasn't sure if he'd be a midfielder or a centre-back because he was a really good footballer.

"He's played over 140 games now and he is established but he's still young. A centre-back at 24, he should play for the next 10 years and hopefully it's at United."