CINDERFORD prodigy Luke Thomas has signed a new four-year contract with Championship side Derby County.

The youngster’s new deal will see him stay at the club until 2022 and ends speculation over his immediate future.

Thomas was linked to a move to the capital, with Premier League side West Ham United said to be interested in his talents.

And the forward, who joined the Rams in a £100,000 deal from Cheltenham Town in January 2016, has garnered the approval of new manager Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea legend praised Thomas after taking up the role at Pride Park earlier this summer.

Lampard told the club’s website, dcfc.co.uk: “I’ve been really impressed with Luke from the start of pre-season and I think it was really important for us as a club to get him, as an exciting young player, tied down on a long- term deal.

“He offers something very different for us and he showed his skill and speed on the ball during pre-season.”

“Luke knows there’s plenty

of hard work ahead of him, as he continues to develop and improve, but he certainly has great potential to have a really good career in the game.”

Thomas, the younger brother of ex-Cinderford Town captain Keiran and Broadwell forward Liam, has impressed in pre- season.

The 19-year-old scored twice in the 4-1 win over Notts County last month and his performance drew a great deal of praise from Derby boss Lampard.

Thomas was also named on the substitutes bench in the Rams’ dramatic 2-1 win over Reading on Friday, in what was the Football League curtain-raiser.