Preston North End boss Alex Neil expects settling-in period for new-look squad

Alex Neil does not want any snap judgements to be made about Preston North End’s new-look squad.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Tomorrow’s clash with Rotherham at Deepdale is the Lilywhites’ first game since the transfer window shut.

It is the first without Ben Davies while the three most recent arrivals – Liam Lindsay, Anthony Gordon and Sepp van den Berg – will be looking for a debut at some stage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Neil takes the view that at this moment, the squad cannot seen as being stronger than it was at the start of January.

PNE manager Alex NeilPNE manager Alex Neil
PNE manager Alex Neil

He uses Davies to highlight that, the fact the defender has gone to Liverpool making him tough to replace like-for-like.

PNE boss Neil has every faith in the eight players who have come in but says it will take them time for them to settle and get used to their new surroundings. The four signings made early last month – Jayson Molumby, Ben Whiteman, Daniel Iversen and Ched Evans – have had a decent period to settle.

Greg Cunningham came back to PNE last week and made his debut at Sheffield Wednesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Lindsay, Gordon and Van den Berg are in their first few days in Neil’s squad.

Neil told the Lancashire Post: “If you are going out and signing guys who have been proven Championship players for six or seven years, we would be having a different conversation.

“What we have done is bring some young players in, we have brought in lads who weren’t playing elsewhere and brought in a couple from the division below.

“When you add all that into the mix of what we have been trying to do for the last three seasons, it will be unknown to anyone at the moment as to how good we will be between now and the end of the season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"That is why I’m being a bit noncommittal to people saying we can do this and do that – I’m bringing some realism to it.

“Sometimes when you bring a lot of lads together, people can get carried away and make predictions.

“We need to take a step back and realise the calibre of player we have lost – we have lost a player to Liverpool.

“The new lads I have every faith in – over the course of time hopefully they can prove to be as good as or better than the ones who have left.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Neil could have Sean Maguire back in the squad, the striker having missed the last three matches.

After such a busy window, Neil is pleased that all the focus can turn to the pitch.

“During the window that is all people want to talk about, whether it is good business, bad business or no business you do,” said Neil.

“Once it shuts no one cares anymore, it is about winning matches.”

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 per month for the first two months. Try us today by clicking here