Friday 6 February 2015 17:10, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila says he is delighted that Kris Commons has decided his future lies with the Scottish Premiership champions.
Commons was in the last few months of his previous deal and was linked with a move to join former Hoops' boss Neil Lennon at Bolton.
But the midfielder, who scored the second goal in the 2-0 Scottish League Cup semi-final win over Rangers last weekend, signed a new deal to stay at Parkhead until the summer of 2017.
I am very, very pleased because he is a very important player for us, it took some time and I'm happy that it's real now.
Deila said: "I am very, very pleased because he is a very important player for us, it took some time and I'm happy that it's real now.
"It's a tough job to be a footballer at Celtic - if you go around thinking of other things you lose energy but now it is done and I'm happy and Kris is happy. Now we have to concentrate with what is happening on the pitch.
"It's no problem for me to give him two years - why? He has never asked for big money so that is not a problem. The things that we were talking about is to keep motivated, you have to be always looking for improvement and he has shown me, especially in the last month that he is really, really up for it.
"He understands where we are going and for him it's getting his fitness even better, it's good but it could be better. He is also a big role model to the youngsters so he has to be that role model in training every day."
Commons, the current Scotland Player of the Year and a huge favourite with the Celtic fans, admitted he was delighted to finally sort out his future.
"I'm over the moon with everything that is happened so I can concentrate on a very busy and important time and the next few games," he said.
"It's very difficult to concentrate on playing football when you have things on your mind and you are not fully focused on the game. Now I can hopefully play even better than what I am at the minute."
