By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

Roberto Martinez has hailed Marcos Painter as a lump of British steel after the left-back signed a new contract.

Painter has agreed a long-term, performance-related deal which is expected to keep him at Swansea City until at least 2010.

The former Birmingham City man, whose previous agreement was due to expire at the end of this season, joins Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel in committing to the Swansea cause.

And Martinez admits Painter, who is battling to be fit for the weekend trip to Crystal Palace, is just the sort of no-nonsense player needed on the Liberty Stadium staff.

"You have to have the right balance in your squad," said the Swansea boss. "When the foreign players come to join us they are really impressed by people like Marcos.

"They see players who are prepared to give everything to win the ball and that's something that's unique to the British game. t's good for the team when you have players who are prepared to put their bodies on the line to get a result, and Marcos is one of those.

"He is clever enough, too, to get on the ball and start the play off, and that makes him a very complete full-back."

Painter has been a regular on the Swansea team-sheet ever since Kenny Jackett signed him initially on loan from Birmingham back in November 2006.

The £50,000 man's only spells out of the side have been the result of a succession of niggling injuries.

"Marcos is a 100 per cent player who will never pull out of a tackle and sometimes that can mean football accidents," Martinez added.

"But the important thing is that the biomechanical problems he had which were causing some soft-tissue injuries have now been corrected.

"He looks stronger now and is more prepared to deal with the demands of the game."

Painter, who only turned 22 last month, has appeared in all but one of Swansea's games so far this season but his participation at Palace on Saturday is in some doubt because of an ankle ligament problem first suffered in the Carling Cup win over Hull.

Swansea are hopeful that he will be okay, especially as left-back rival Fede Bessone is only just returning after a month out with a broken rib.

"Marcos has moved into the Championship with no problem at all," Martinez said.

"We forget how young he is because of the way he plays. He is already a very reliable player who is another in our squad with Premier League potential.

"His best years are ahead of him and we're delighted that he will be staying with us for the long term. It gives the club a solid look."