'I had the best years of my career here': Greg Cunningham returns to Preston North End on loan from Cardiff City

The left-back completed the formalities of his loan move from Cardiff City on Thursday morning and will join his PNE team-mates for training on Friday.

He will be in the squad for Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, the Owls interested in signing him themselves until North End swooped.

Cunningham said: "I know the club really well, all I needed was the postcode for the new training ground because it's not at Dodney Drive anymore.

"I'm looking forward to starting training with the boys again on Friday and start rolling again.

"It is a big advantage for me knowing a lot of people around the club. I had the best years of my career here.

"I really enjoyed my time here and I don't think anyone can begrudge me for leaving at the time I did with the opportunity of playing in the Premier League.

"It obviously didn't pan out the way I hoped but that is football sometimes.

"I'm delighted to come round full circle and I'm really happy to be here. Credit to the club and I really appreciate everyone who was associated with bringing me back."

Cunningham, who turns 30 on Sunday, joins Jayson Molumby, Ben Whiteman, Daniel Iversen and Ched Evans in the Deepdale arrivals' lounge this window.

North End made their move for him earlier in the week but he had to stay with the Cardiff squad until after their 2-2 draw with Barnsley on Wednesday night.

He spent three seasons at Deepdale between 2015 and 2018, making 111 appearances in a PNE shirt.

A £4m move took him to Cardiff in July 2018 after the Bluebirds had been promoted to the Premier League.

However, he only made 14 appearances for the Welsh and spent time on loan at Blackburn last season, a spell which was cut short by a knee ligament injury.

Cunningham said: "It's a pleasant surprise to be back. I just needed some games and my game-time was very limited at Cardiff.

"When Preston came in it was a no-brainer and thankfully it got sorted relatively quickly.

"There was talk of interest from Preston before training on Tuesday. I said to my agent I'm still a Cardiff player so I'll prepare for the Barnsley game as I would any other game.

"I went out to train and afterwards when I checked my phone, I'd had a few missed calls to say it had all been agreed."

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