| array(10) {
["headline"]=>
string(25) "Delfouneso signs new deal"
["slugline"]=>
string(50) "SOCCER Villa Delfouneso sa15 Villa Delfouneso sa15"
["bodycontent"]=>
string(1365) " Aston Villa's promising striker Nathan Delfouneso has signed a new contract which will keep him with the midlands club until the summer of 2012. The 18-year-old, who scored twice for Villa in the UEFA Cup last season, has put pen to paper on a two year extension to his current deal. Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "I couldn't be more pleased. Nathan is a great talent and has real natural ability." He added: "He is ready. He is pushing on very strongly now even though you consider he is still very young. "He has everything going for him. If he keeps learning, he's got a really good chance. "I wouldn't want to put a great deal of pressure on him but, in terms of natural talent and strength and ability to go past players, I think he's got it all. The rest is up to him. "He is a great, great talent and I am absolutely delighted to have him here. "He has been around the first team. I hope when he gets his opportunity - in the not too distant future - he can grab it. "I have seen a few players in the past with great, great talent disappear at 21, 22 but I don't think that's in his nature. "He really wants it and I think he has that determination about him. The football club will see the benefits in the next few years." " ["image"]=> string(136) "http://www.virginmedia.com/newsfeeds//11449/2009/11/07/delfouneso_signs_new_deal/9e162f116b363079324d75879f2eccdcA33801361257607017A.jpg" ["imagecaption"]=> string(17) "Nathan Delfouneso" ["excerpt"]=> string(147) "Aston Villa's promising striker Nathan Delfouneso has signed a new contract which will keep him with the midlands club until the summer of 2012" ["image_70x70"]=> string(142) "http://www.virginmedia.com/newsfeeds//11449/2009/11/07/delfouneso_signs_new_deal/9e162f116b363079324d75879f2eccdcA33801361257607017A_70x70.jpg" ["image_150x150"]=> string(144) "http://www.virginmedia.com/newsfeeds//11449/2009/11/07/delfouneso_signs_new_deal/9e162f116b363079324d75879f2eccdcA33801361257607017A_150x150.jpg" ["image_200x200"]=> string(144) "http://www.virginmedia.com/newsfeeds//11449/2009/11/07/delfouneso_signs_new_deal/9e162f116b363079324d75879f2eccdcA33801361257607017A_200x200.jpg" ["story_id"]=> int(43586862) } |