The 20-year-old central defender is on standby to make his Preston debut at a packed Carrow Road, if needed.

And he is confident he can take the opportunity in his stride – just like he will the step up to Championship football.

"I'm ready if I'm needed," he said before flying down to East Anglia with his new North End team-mates today.

"I'm not expecting to be playing because I've only just arrived.

"But if the manager wants me in the 16 – or even the starting XI – I'd love it.

"I suppose the sendings off the other night could have put me in contention. You just never know."

Trotman trained with North End for the first time yesterday following his £500,000 move from Oldham Athletic.

Manager Alan Irvine immediately included him in the squad to make the long journey to Norfolk. Preston are without suspended trio Youl Mawene, Chris Brown and Chris Sedgwick, leaving them short-handed,
especially for the bench.

The youngster's move to Deepdale came after Trotman had watched North End beat league leaders West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Yet, having seen the standard of the football he is coming into from League One, the former Burnley trainee is undaunted.

He has already taken advice from one of tomorrow's opponents – on-loan full-back Ryan Bertrand from Chelsea – and is sure he can handle the step up.

"Ryan was on loan at Oldham for a few months this season and he is now at Norwich," he explained.

"He has told me there is not that much difference. Obviously the players are technically better. But he has coped and he has told I can cope as well.

"I'm actually looking forward to playing Championship football.

"And I wouldn't be here at Preston if the manager didn't think I was good enough.

"So it is up to me to show what I can do and prove to everyone that I am good enough."

Manchester-born Trotman was chased by a number of other clubs, including Premier League Derby County, but decided to join North End after talks with Irvine.

And after signing an initial three-and-a-half year deal at Deepdale he revealed two former PNE players – Sean Gregan and Tony Philliskirk – had helped steer him towards the club.

Trotman took Gregan's place in the centre of the Latics' defence in October – a sizeable pair of boots to step into.

And Philliskirk is the youth team coach at Boundary Park. Said Trotman: "The first I knew about Preston was when I got a phone from Sean the other week saying they could be after me.

"I was thinking Preston were a decent club, but I wasn't sure because I didn't know enough about them. So I talked to Tony and he said Preston are a really good club.

"He told me the manager here could progress me into a better player than I am now."

Trotman said his first day with his new team-mates was a bit daunting, but one familiar face made things much better. "I know Richard Chaplow from when he was in the Burnley youth team with me.

"I was a bit quiet on my first day because I didn't really know anyone else. But they seem a good bunch, they were very good with me.

"Having just arrived at the club I can't expect a place in the team straight away.

"I know I will have to fight for it and it won't be easy because there are some very good players here.

"But it's all about taking your chance and I hope I can if I get one. It's up to me to show everyone what I can do."

At 6ft 3in, Trotman is strong in the air.

"I've got a good leap on me, I can win headers in both boxes.

"I just like to defend really. You won't see me getting the ball and running out with it. I just get it and pass it.

"You can't expect too much from me ball-wise. I tend to play to my strengths which are heading the ball and kicking it."

Trotman admits he was 'devastated' to be shown the door at Burnley in 2005 after two years as a trainee.

And the desire to show the Clarets they made a huge mistake burns inside him.

"I was 17 or 18 and I thought I was doing all right as a second year when they released me," he recalled.

"I thought I had been doing well enough to get a professional contract, but unfortunately for me I wasn't able to get one.

"Obviously I was devastated. It is every young boy's dream to be a professional footballer.

"But only 20 minutes after I got released I got a phone call from Tony Philliskirk and they gave me a chance to go to Oldham.

"I was delighted to get that call and since then I have been giving it my all.

"I'm not one to dwell on things like that, even though I thought I had a chance at Turf Moor."