LEEDS United hitman Jermaine Beckford has signed a new three-year deal with the club.

The striking news comes just 24 hours after fellow forward Tore Andre Flo underwent surgery on his long-standing foot injury in a bid to finally clear up the problem so that he can add his ability and experience to United's firing front-line.

Finding goals has not been a problem for Leeds this term, however, with Beckford, who had a profitable loan spell at Scunthorpe last year, currently the top scorer in League One having netted six times ahead of tomorrow's visit of Leyton Orient.

His new deal runs until the end of 2009/10 and is an improvement on the contract he signed when he arrived from non-League Wealdstone in March 2006.

Former Chelsea, Rangers and Norway forward Flo made a surprise return to Leeds' bench last week but was still troubled by the injury. He is expected to return within two months.