“We are delighted Richard has signed,” City boss Stuart Pearce told the club’s official website, mcfc.co.uk. “From my own point of view it’s great that I am the man in charge when he turns around and says he wants to stay at this football club.

“It reflects solely on the club but it is nice to have a player not thinking to himself ‘is that fellow still going to be here?”’ Pearce said in relation to his own future.

“He has performed exceptionally well this year and is one of our top three there is no doubt about that.

“Arguably he has done as well as anyone this season and there is merit in the school of thought that he could be the most improved player in the Premiership. I think he has matured as a man and as a player over the past year.”