Preston midfielder Paul Gallagher enjoying time on Deepdale’s coaching staff

The 36-year-old midfielder was added to the first-team coaching staff last month to cover the absence of Frankie McAvoy who was isolating.

In addition to the tracksuit role, Gallagher played twice in the PNE team – starting the defeat to Birmingham and coming off the bench at Rotherham as North End chased the game before the international break.

Coaching at PNE’s academy for more than a year, taking the Under-16s, gave him the appetite to get a closer look at the first-team set-up.

“I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks, I’ve been seeing the game from a different perspective,” Gallagher told the Lancashire Post.

“This could be the next step of my career, the transition from a player to coach, so I’m keen to learn as much as I can.

“With the amount of time I have played here, I’ve got a lot of respect from the lads.

“They know what this club means to me, the standards I have on and off the pitch, they understand that I’ve been here a long time.

“The manager has been great with me, involving me with a lot of things.

“I’ve been in his office to watch videos of the opposition with the staff and he’ll respect my view if I see something.

“I’m still training as a player every day, I’ve not missed a session.

“At the end of training I’ve been putting on shooting sessions for the lads.

“I’m grateful to the gaffer, he gave me the opportunity to start coaching 18 months ago at the academy.”

In addition to Gallagher’s two recent appearances, he started the Carabao Cup ties with Derby and Brighton, and came on as a sub on the opening day against Swansea.

He accepts there will be less game time over the course of the season but is strong in his belief he can still contribute.

Gallagher said: “I know I’m not going to play every game so I want to help players who can play in my position.

“When I do eventually retire, I’d like to know that I’ve left the team in a good position.

“The recovery time after games is longer with the older you get, you do feel the legs a lot more.

“I can still affect games, creating opportunities with good passing.

“At Rotherham the other week I took the corner which was cleared to Ryan Ledson to score – I’m not claiming credit for that but I’m trusted to take set pieces.

“Then there was the cross which I put on Jayden Stockley’s head, he was unlucky to see it come back off the post.

“We should have got something from that game.”