Ched Evans is impressed with Frankie McAvoy's start as stand-in Preston North End boss

McAvoy will lead PNE for the fourth time when they face Stoke City on Saturday at the bet365 Stadium (12.30pm).

The Lilywhites head to the Potteries with a draw, win and defeat under the caretaker, the 5-0 loss to Brentford one they will be looking to get out of the system quickly.

Evans, who signed a new two-year contract this week, is set to lead the attack against Michael O’Neil’s men.

“Before we played the last three games, had we been asked whether we’d take four points, I would definitely have said ‘yes’,” Evans told the Lancashire Post.

“Frankie has taken to his new role like a duck to water, the lads had respect for him before this and they have that respect for him now.

“Going forward it is about sticking together as a team, we win, lose and draw together.

“It can be a difficult position for a coach to be in when they get the managerial position.

“From being the person who the players can go and speak to at any time, they kind of have to take a step back.

“I think Frankie has dealt with that really well, you can still speak with him but you know he has that added responsibility.

“He’s been brilliant and we all want the best for Preston.”

Evans, 32, was pleased to get his new contract agreed.

Having arrived on loan from Fleetwood in January and then turning that into a short-term permanent move, the deal gives him longer-term stability.

Said Evans: “I thought in January the opportunity to come to a Championship club was brilliant for me.

“It was about having confidence in myself and my own ability to go and earn a contract.

“The old manager said to me then if I do well, we will look at extending the contract.

“That was him trying to look ahead and I knew I had to put the work in.

“I feel like we could have won more games in that time and created more opportunities to score some more goals. With regards to giving your all and having a go every game, I feel like that I have done that.

“It’s been so good when we’ve had that winning feeling, Swansea last week was brilliant.

“We want more days like that when we can celebrate at the final whistle.

“The difference to how we felt at Swansea to how we felt after the Brentford game, was massive.

“We were all down after Brentford, it was not nice to be beaten that way. We can’t dwell on it, we’ve got our minds on playing Stoke.”

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