'Very useful' - Preston North End told what to expect after striking Aston Villa loan deal

Kaine Kesler-Hayden Kaine Kesler-Hayden
Kaine Kesler-Hayden | Getty Images
The former Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle man has signed for PNE

Preston North End made Kaine Kesler-Hayden their third summer signing this week, on loan from Aston Villa.

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The 21-year-old will spend the 2024/25 campaign at Deepdale, after some experience on the first team stage with Villa last season - and a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle. The Home Park spell was Kesler-Hayden’s second in the Championship, and he played 27 games across all competitions.

Someone who watched all of those was Chris Errington - long-serving Pilgrims reporter for Plymouth Live. Here, he gives us the lowdown on Kesler-Hayden’s Home Park spell - as well as his verdict on the PNE move.

Was Kesler-Hayden's loan spell a success?

CE: Yes it was. He made 21 starts and six substitute appearances, before being surprisingly recalled from his season-long loan by Aston Villa in January. It was wondered at the time whether that was done so Kesler-Hayden could be loaned somewhere else, or even sold. However, Kesler-Hayden went on to be a regular for Villa's matchday squads over the rest of the campaign and came off the bench four times, including in the second leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiakos of Greece.

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What were his stand out attributes in a Plymouth shirt?

CE: It was obvious from the outset of his loan to Argyle that Kesler-Hayden was an attack-minded full-back, or wing-back, capable of playing on the right and the left as well - so his versatility was very useful. Playing on the right is his natural position, but he proved at Argyle he was more than capable of lining up on the opposite side of the pitch if needed. He also seemed to fit into the Pilgrims' squad very easily and came across very well in Press interviews.

Where did he need to improve?

CE: He was sometimes caught out defensively by lapses of concentration, but that can often be the case with young players still learning their trade. Also, despite getting into some good scoring positions, he did not score a goal for Argyle in his 27 games as his finishing let him down.

Do you think it's a smart signing for PNE?

CE: This is going to be Kesler-Hayden's fifth loan spell away from Aston Villa, and still at just the age of 21, so it is nothing new for him and you would expect him to build on the success he had with Argyle - in the first half of last season. He will know the standard of the Championship and after getting a brief taste of first team action at Aston Villa last term, he will be motivated to continue his development at PNE - so when he returns to his parent club he can try to push for a place in their senior side.

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