PAUL DUMMETT will be offered a new contract at Newcastle United despite having barely featured for the first team this season.

The 31-year-old agreed a new one-year deal when his previous contract expired last summer, but has found himself playing a peripheral role throughout the current campaign.

His one and only first-team appearance came in the second round of the Carabao Cup against Tranmere Rovers, and while he was poised to come on as a stoppage-time substitution in last weekend’s win over Southampton, the final whistle blew while he was still standing on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity to come on.

With Matt Targett and Jamal Lewis available to provide cover for current first-choice left-back Dan Burn, and Newcastle reportedly in the market for a new left-sided defender in the summer, it had been assumed that Dummett would be allowed to leave when his deal expires at the end of the season.

However, Eddie Howe is not ready to release him, with a new deal for the former Wales international in the offing.

Howe said: “Does Paul have a future here? Yeah, very much so. I see Paul as part of our future.

“When you build a squad, you’re never going to be able to play everybody within that squad for the amount of time that maybe they want to, so you need players that are prepared to fight for their place, train really well and have a really good effect on the group.

“Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, they’re players that, although they haven't necessarily performed for the outside world, they've performed for us internally. They've both been excellent.”

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It remains to be seen whether Dummett is selected as part of the matchday squad for tomorrow’s home game with Arsenal, but he has suffered from injury issues in the past, the defender is currently fully fit and champing at the bit for an opportunity to return to the first-team fold.

Howe said: “Paul’s been really good, fitness-wise. He's had a really consistent run of training, hasn't missed a day in a while. I think any player benefits from that consistency.

“He's a very, very good player, Paul, and, I think, the beauty of it is that he can play in a couple of positions for us. It's great to have a player who's got that experience and ability.

“Yes, he hasn't had an opportunity yet, really, to get a run in the team because of the consistency of the other players, but he's someone we value very highly as a player, person (and) professional.

“I was gutted I couldn't get him on the pitch (against Southampton). Time ran out. It was just a little show from me that he's very valued here.”