Foden has been capped once against Italy in last year's Six Nations

Northampton Saints full-back Ben Foden has followed scrum-half Lee Dickson in signing a new contract with the club.

The 24-year-old, who is touted as the best full-back in the Premiership, joined from Sale Sharks in 2008 but the length of his new deal is undisclosed.

"I feel part of the team at full-back," Foden told the club's website.

"We need to be playing the best teams in Europe and to compete in those games is a testament to where we've come from and going to."

Foden has made 48 appearances and scored 11 tries since moving to Franklin's Gardens as well as earning an England cap.

He added: "[Director of rugby Jim Mallinder] is a former full-back but he let me choose my own path.

"Now I'm playing full-back, he's giving me direction and help in how to develop.

Ben has settled into being one of our most dangerous attacking players. Saints director Jim Mallinder

"All of the coaches are very good at managing players and I'm looking forward to where they're taking the team in the future."

Mallinder is delighted to have secured Foden's services beyond the end of this season.

"Ben has settled into being one of our most dangerous attacking players," the Saints director said.

"He is the type of player that suits us, with individual ability to create something from nothing, but also knowing what role he can play in the team as a whole."

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