It has been a long time coming, but Michael Morrison finally completed the deal that will keep him at The Valley until the summer of 2016 on Tuesday evening.

The Addicks are still short of experience in central defence though, Dorian Dervite has left for Bolton, Leon Cort has been released and Richard Wood will be moving back north, so a new defender or two are still required.

Other than Morrison, Harry Lennon and 17-year-old Joe Gomez are Bob Peeters’ only central defensive options.

Morrison was naturally delighted to seal the deal and had this to say:

“I’m really pleased to get it (the deal)over the line. It’s taken a long time but the club have always said they want to keep me and I really wanted to stay and go into a new era which I think is going to be successful.

“We’ve kept enough of the core (of the squad) to build from and we’ve got some exciting players coming in who I hope can hit the ground running and take us up the league,” said the 26-year-old.

Morrison has been a virtual ever present since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday three years ago, missing just the odd game in each of his three campaigns with the Addicks. Morrison would clearly like to add an ever present season to his CV and added this:

“I always keep missing out on it by one or two games every year.

“I always try and play as many games as I can and touch wood, I’ve been injury free for the past few years. I’d like to get towards that 200 mark next season.”

Morrison has made 146 appearances in all competitions for Charlton, so if he can maintain his fitness and form levels, he will be close to achieving his goal by the end of the season.