The 20-year-old put pen to paper on a three-month stay at Deepdale on Monday night after passing a routine medical – and then jetted straight off to Dublin to prepare for his Ireland B debut on Thursday.

North End revealed the player has signed with a view to a permanent deal in the January transfer window.

"Let's just see how it goes and whether the club like me," Nolan told the Lancashire Evening Post.

"I'm here until January and I'm hoping to play some first- team football during that time. Then we will see what's happening after that."

>>PNE boss holds fire on loan move

Nolan is a centre-half who can also operate at right-back – a position he has played on loan with both Stockport and Hartlepool in the past 18 months.

Boss Alan Irvine has been tracking the youngster for some time after being impressed with him in reserve-team football for Rovers.

Preston say they were already negotiating to land the 6ft 1in Irishman before the recent injury crisis which has left the club with just four fit defenders.

"He is a young player who has got potential," said Irvine. "He has a good pedigree.

"We will see how things are between now and January to see whether we take it on further. We are looking at Eddie with an eye on the future.

"He isn't necessarily someone who is going to solve our problems right at this moment. People shouldn't look at him as someone who is going to get into the first team at this moment."

Full story in Tuesday's Lancashire Evening Post