Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has paid tribute to Nicky Butt after the experienced midfielder agreed a new one-year contract extension.The 31-year-old former England international, who was signed by Sir Bobby Robson from Manchester United in the summer of 2004, sees his current deal run out in June but he has agreed a one-year extension with the option of a further year on top of that.

Manager Sam Allardyce was relieved to get one of his most consistent players this season tied down on a new contract.

"Nicky has been magnificent for us this season when his experience has been invaluable," he said. "He is a great player to have in your squad and a terrific example for all youngsters to follow.

"Hopefully he will now continue with the level of performances he has been producing all season."

Butt was in the Newcastle side beaten by Derby at Pride Park in the middle of September - and Allardyce has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he does not want a repeat in Sunday's return at St James's Park.

That 1-0 victory remains the Rams' only win of the season and it was squeezed between a 6-0 drubbing at Liverpool and a 5-0 hammering at Arsenal.

Not surprisingly it still rankles with Allardyce.

"That defeat at Derby County is still a sore point and it is still hurting even though it is now a long time ago. And it is as bad a result as I have had since I came here.

"We had gone there unbeaten from our four games in the Premier League and with a Carling Cup win over Barnsley and refreshed after an international break and lost to a wonder goal from Kenny Miller.

"I think Kenny has only scored one more goal for Derby since then and when you also take into account that was the game when Michael Owen's groin first went then it was a disappointing night for us all round.

"But we are going into Sunday's game with seven points out of the last nine and with the chance of taking it up to 10 from our last four matches and picking up three wins in a row for what I am told would be the first time in 12 months.

"It's a great opportunity for us and we will have to make sure we are ready. And also make sure we don't give Derby County the sort of opportunity we gave Birmingham City in our last home game."

Allardyce will cross swords with two of his biggest managerial pals in new Derby boss Paul Jewell and his assistant Stan Ternent at St James's Park on Sunday.

And the Newcastle boss added: "Jagger (Jewell) will have enjoyed his break away from the game while Stan has had a lot of success wherever he has been.

"I know now they will be plotting a way out of trouble and we have to make sure it does not start against us on Sunday.

"Derby were resilient at Sunderland a couple of weeks ago and when I watched them against Middlesbrough last week I thought they were on the wrong end of a couple of poor decisions from the referee yet they were only beaten in the end by a great goal from Tuncay.

"We can expect them to put up a stubborn defence and in their Geordie lad up front Steve Howard they have someone who can be a handful on his day.

"So we will have to make sure that we adopt a professional approach to the game and if we do then we should be okay."

Meanwhile Newcastle continue to be linked with several players in advance of the January transfer deadline, including Barcelona's former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

But Allardyce, who had the Icelandic international at Bolton, said: "With Michael Owen, Oba Martins, Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi we are well blessed for strikers."

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