by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Aston Villa backline prodigy Eric Lichaj has agreed to an improved deal that will tie him to the club through the summer of 2011, Soccer365 has learned.

A source confirmed that the 20-year old accepted the club's raised offer to extend his contract past it's original June expiration date and is expected to make it official on Tuesday.

Lichaj joined the club out of the University of North Carolina in August of 2007, and has gradually made inroads with the Reserves as a right back.

"(Villa manager Martin O'Neill) had a lot of good things to say about Eric," shared the source, who wished to remain anonymous.

"That's not an easy side to break into, they are fourth in the league. So this is a big statement."

Though his pact was entering it's final six months, it seems the Villans had no intention of letting Lichaj get away. The club initially offered up a one-year extension, and then returned with an additional season after the Illinois native started to draw attention from other clubs.

The youngster was dogged by injuries during his first year in Birmingham, but has become a semi-regular for the Premier Reserves League South leaders this term.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

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