Irishman Colin Doyle has signed a four-year contract extension with promotion seekers Birmingham City, ending recent speculation of a summer move to Arsenal.

The 21-year-old Corkman has turned in a number of eye-catching performances for Steve Bruce's side since displacing Northern Ireland international Maik Taylor in February.

Those displays alerted Arsenal and the club's manager Arsene Wenger was apparently contemplating a summer move for the giant goalkeeper.

Wenger is eyeing cover for Jens Lehmann who is almost 38 now while Manuel Almunia is not regarded as a long-term first choice option.

But Doyle is staying loyal to a club he has been with for six years and who currently top the Championship table with a point to spare over Roy Keane's Sunderland.

"Colin has waited patiently for his chance but now he has grabbed it with both hands," said Birmingham coach Eric Black of a player who signed a two-year deal with the club just last summer.

"He has got a magnificent presence and his handling has been secure. I can only see him developing into an even better keeper over the next year or two."

Doyle has also been a recent feature in Steve Staunton's Republic of Ireland squad but has yet to play for the senior side.

That, however, looks set to change during next month's tour to America where, in the absence of Shay Given, he will surely feature in the games against Ecuador and Bolivia in New York and Boston on May 23rd and 26th respectively.