Mariappa last scored in September's 6-1 win at Millwall

Watford defender Adrian Mariappa has agreed a new two-and-a-half-year contract at Vicarage Road.

The 24-year-old's current deal was set to end in the summer of 2012.

Academy product Mariappa, who captains the side in the absence of John Eustace, has played 113 consecutive games in league and cup.

"I'm very happy at Watford, we're playing some really good football at the moment and long may that continue," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"The club's been great to me and given me my chance in football and I'm trying to repay that with performances on the pitch.

"We've exceeded a lot of other people's expectations but we knew we could compete in the Championship."

Since making his debut in a 3-1 League Cup win over Notts County in August 2005, Mariappa has notched 185 appearances for the Hornets.

He has played 29 times this season, scoring once, and has formed a reliable centre-half partnership with Martin Taylor, helping Watford challenge for a top six place.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version