Early starts are new for Horgan

Horgan was full-time in Ireland, as was Andy Boyle who made the same move last month, but some of their team-mates were not.

That meant training was done in the evenings, once others had clocked-off from their day jobs.

Horgan said: “It was evening sessions back home.

“We were pretty much full-time but a couple of the lads had jobs as well so that would mean you’d train in the evenings.

“You would do your gym work in the morning and then train at 6pm.

“I was still in the gym at the crack of dawn back home.

“It’s a different set-up here but one that’s going to be good for me.

“I’m enjoying the training, with it being in the morning – it’s brilliant.

“Playing in the Europa League definitely helped me get up to the intensity a lot quicker.”

Horgan has played five times for North End since his move across the water.

The 24-year-old made starts against Brighton and Cardiff, with appearances from the bench in the games with Arsenal, Aston Villa and Ipswich.

Centre-half Boyle has yet to feature, and was an unused substitute in the Ipswich and Cardiff matches.

“I’ve said ever since I came that there’s a brilliant squad,” said Horgan, who will hope to feature against Brentford at Deepdale on Saturday.

“You don’t even have to look at the bench – look at the players who aren’t even on the bench.

“Anyone within the squad could do a job and bring something different.

“For the manager to have those decisions to make, it’s obviously not easy for him.

“To be honest we’ve a very strong squad.

“From a team point of view, I want to push for the play-offs and get as high as we possibly can.

“It definitely won’t be out of our grasp, it’ll be difficult but that will have to be the aim.

“Personally I’m just going to try and get into the team as much as a possibly can.

“When I do I’ve got to try and affect games and stay in the manager’s mind.”