Defender Jordan Storey having to show patience after breakthrough Preston North End season
It is getting on for 12 months ago that Preston North End handed out their player of the year awards for the 2018/19 campaign.
A promising debut season at Deepdale saw Jordan Storey lift the young player of the year award.
The centre-half had made 32 appearances, a good chunk of them during the second half of the season when he struck up a good partnership with Ben Davies at the heart of North End’s back four. It was Davies who won last season’s player of the year and players’ player of the year awards, a good time indeed to be a PNE defender.
This season, things have not gone as smoothly for 22-year-old Storey.
He has been the victim of a quest by the Lilywhites to add more experience to the defence.
By the time the season was halted last month, Storey had made only seven starts in league and cup, together with two substitute appearances.
His place this season has gone to Patrick Bauer who, like Storey did last season, has formed a strong pairing with Davies.
Storey’s three league starts came in late November and early December against Hull, West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers.
Bauer missed two of those through injury, Davies all three.
Age will be on Storey’s side when football’s restart allows him to challenge for a place again.
North End paid Exeter an initial £500,000 for him in June 2018 and he remains highly rated at the club.
Alex Neil just felt an extra layer of experience was needed to mount a promotion push, hence the signing of Bauer.
Storey will have to be patient but his chance will come again at some stage.