Northern Ireland midfielder reflects on 12 months at Preston North End

The Northern Ireland international joined on deadline day last summer from St Johnstone and has made a good impression since arriving in Lancashire.

It was the 22-year-old’s first senior move relocating from Scotland to PNE, and he has been used regularly since joining, though starts sometimes have been hard to come by.

McCann is a popular figure nevertheless and has been delighted with his choice of club and the move.

He said: “I've loved every minute since I came down, it's been great. I don't think I could have come to a better club.

"Everyone here has made me feel so settled so quickly. It was the first time I'd ever moved as well.

"It was a different part of the world with different people, you never know what you're going to get.

"I couldn't have asked for a better place to come with better people, I'm delighted with the move and how it's going so far.”

McCann has been in good form of late, starting in an attacking role in behind a lone striker and scoring twice against Huddersfield Town.

It is not a position that he has often been seen in, his industrial style and eye for a tackle lending him to deeper roles potentially.

McCann is happy in whatever role he is deployed in but admits the different roles have different requirements.

"I enjoy doing both parts of the game, I enjoy getting up and down and getting stuck in defensively but I also like getting forward. I will do whatever is asked of me.

"I like getting into the box the way that I did last Tuesday but also playing a bit deeper.

"It's a lot different further forward because if you're only playing with one striker you have to expect the two further forward to give him support and not leave him isolated.

“That is massive in that role. You've got the other two behind you so you have to give the striker the support.”