Paul Huntington discusses Preston North End team-mate Paul Gallagher's coaching role at Deepdale

Gallagher has spent the last two matches in the dug out standing-in for the absent Frankie McAvoy.

The midfielder and Huntington have been colleagues since October 2013 when Gallagher came to PNE for the second time in his career, initially on loan.

Huntington said: "What was funny the other day was that Gally changed the No.12 on his kit and put 'PG' on, so all the lads were giving him a bit of stick about that.

"A few of the lads think he had been to the club shop to print it himself!

"I find it really good that he got the chance.

"It was a strange at first at Huddersfield because we weren't expecting it but the other day against Millwall it became more normal.

"I've played with Gally for a long time now and he's a really good person to go and speak to. He's good a really good football knowledge and knows the games inside out.

"That is the next step Gally is looking to take but he is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.

"His quality on the pitch and his passing ability is what every team would like.

"Because we won at Huddersfield the lads were saying to him 'you can come again'.

"He's taking bits at the end of training with the younger lads."

Huntington got his first taste of Championship action of the season on Wednesday night as a half-time replacement for the ill Patrick Bauer.

The 33-year-old had been on the bench for the previous couple of games as defensive cover, with Ben Davies having been ruled out with an ankle injury.

With Bauer and several others suffering from a stomach bug, the home dressing room at Deepdale was a pretty grim place during and after the Millwall defeat.

Huntington said: "There were lads on the floor at half-time and full-time.

"At half-time I nipped into the dressing room to use the toilet and I couldn't get in there - it was pretty busy.

"I went back out to warm-up with the other substitutes and about 30 seconds before the end of half-time I saw the Millwall players come back out and then Gally waved me in.

"It was a bit of a surprise that I was needed then but obviously there were a few lads not feeling 100%."

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