Ex-PNE player suffers serious head injury

Little, who spent two years with North End after signing on a Bosman from Rangers in July 2014, was hurt in an accidental collision with a Stirling team-mate and is recovering in an Edinburgh hospital.

Stirling Albion, who play in the Scottish League Two, said the former Northern Ireland international is now "comfortable and stable in hospital and out of danger".

His parents, who live in Ireland, have travelled to Scotland.

Albion chairman Stuart Brown said: "I have been updated by the club medical staff that whilst this was a serious and scary incident, and Andy's injuries are substantial, he is now comfortable and stable in hospital and out of danger.

"His injuries are a fractured skull and eye socket and clearly he faces a long journey to recovery.

"I spoke to Andy's mum, in Ireland, earlier today and she and his dad are making plans to travel to Scotland. I have assured her that Stirling Albion will do everything necessary to assist Andy back to full health.

"I can't thank our club doctor Andrew Deeley, our physio Kenny Crichton and the paramedics enough for their swift and expert attention. It is especially comforting that within our club we have personnel that have both the skills and dedication to handle such, hopefully rare, situations."

Little, who has been capped nine times by Northern Ireland, started his career at Rangers before moving to Preston in 2014.

He failed to force his way into regular contention at Deepdale, with him having loan spells with Blackpool and Accrington Stanley.

Released by PNE at the end of last season, he was without a club until for some months before joining Stirling in February.