Sabri Lamouchi hopes more young players will follow Matty Cash's example and sign new contracts at Nottingham Forest.
put pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half year deal on Thursday and Lamouchi is delighted, but he hopes more good news will follow in the coming months.
"Well done to the player and the club. The club have a project to keep young players," he said.
"I hope this is the first one and not the last one, but this is very good news for both. "
Cash signed despite being linked with a January move to the Premier League with Everton.
Lamouchi hopes it is a sign of the club's progress since his arrival as one of their top young players decides to commit his future to the Reds, who are fourth in the Championship heading into Saturday's visit of Cardiff City.
He also believes players currently in the Nigel Doughty Academy can see the progress they can make with Cash a prime example.
"I hope it shows that progress. We are working towards that," he said.
"The club is doing very well. The Academy is doing very well.
"We want to keep them. The project is clear.
"Young players have the possibility to play in the first team. They have the qualities.
"Nottingham is a big club. We need them."
The 22-year-old was converted from a right winger to a right-back in pre-season and he has flourished ever since after cementing his place when Carl Jenkinson was injured against Preston in August.
Lamouchi says that as long as he is manager, Cash will be a right back.
"With me, the best position is this one," he said.
