Chris Brunt urges West Bromwich Albion to keep Gareth McAuley

Chris Brunt has urged West Bromwich Albion to keep Northern Ireland teammate Gareth McAuley as the defender mulls over a new contract.

McAuley, 35, is out of contract this summer but could pen a one-year extension with the Baggies.

Brunt said that it was a "no-brainer" for the club to want McAuley, who made 24 Premier League starts last season.

"He's a guy who plays every week in the Premier League," Brunt told PA ahead of Northern Ireland's crunch Euro 2016 qualifier with Romania on Saturday. "People keep speaking about his age but if you see him day to day in training he's an extremely fit lad.

"For the age of him he's a bit of a freak really and for him to keep grinding the level of performance he does week in, week out... it's just a no-brainer."

Leicester City are said to be keen on signing McAuley if he and Albion don't reach an agreement.