Experienced Stoke City defender Danny Higginbotham has signed a 12-month contract extension with the club.

The 31-year-old former Manchester United and Sunderland player will now remain at the Britannia Stadium until the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

"We wanted to cement Danny's future with the club because he is such a good professional and it is important we look after certain players who started all this off," Potters boss Tony Pulis told the club's official website.

"I've got a lot of time for Danny because he is one who falls into that category. He may not be in the side on a regular basis at the moment, but he still has a crucial role to play, as do a number of other players in a similar situation.

"The fabric of a club is made up of the whole cloth, not bits and pieces, so we are delighted Danny will remain a part of that."

Higginbotham has scored 11 goals in 112 appearances for Stoke since making his debut for the club in August 2006.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email