PNE sit fifth in the Championship table after their draw at Stoke City

Former Preston North End striker Brett Ormerod views the next month or so as a crucial period for the Lilywhites.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side drew 0-0 at Stoke City on Boxing Day - a result which left them fifth in the league at the half-way stage of the campaign. PNE have won the joint fewest games (nine) of the top ten teams but only league leaders, Coventry City, have lost fewer matches than North End’s four.

Ormerod watched his old club play out their goalless draw in the Potteries. He felt Heckingbottom would be content heading back up the road with a solid away point in the bag. In the eyes of Ormerod, a mix of festive fixtures and the January transfer window makes it an intriguing few weeks ahead for Preston.

“It’s important,” Ormerod told BBC Lancashire post-match, on the Christmas period. “It can set you up for the second half of the season.

“They are in the play-offs on Boxing Day... I think if you asked any PNE fan in the summer, they would’ve snapped your hand off. So, they are in a really good position. It will be interesting to see how they go about it in January.

“If they can get one or two, maybe, in to help and boost the attacking play because defensively, I think they are pretty sound. Obviously, (Milutin) Osmajic is to come back which will be like a new signing after a big, long suspension.

“Let’s be honest, Preston have always been a club who have a budget and have to cut their cloth accordingly. I think Paul Heckingbottom will bring players in if it improves his squad. There is no point bringing in players just for the sake of it.

“They have to be the right fit and it has to be good for Preston and benefit the squad, rather than just for numbers sake. But, he has been very astute with the players he has brought in. Hopefully, he can maybe add one or two for the run to the end of the season.”

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