'More to come' from Preston North End loanee and injury news ahead of Watford clash

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says one summer signing is confident there is plenty more to come from him this season.

North End brought in 10 players - six permanent signings and four loans - during the transfer window, which closed last week.

One of those is Delano Burgzorg, on loan from fellow Championship side Middlesbrough. He was lauded by fans for his work rate and counter-pressing during their 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, and it was his ball that set up Callum Lang’s opener.

In his pre-Watford press conference on Monday, Heckingbottom told the Lancashire Post: “We wanted to replace that athleticism at the top of the pitch and it's one of Della's big strengths. His work rate for the team, some of his counter-pressing and regains high up were very, very good.

“His pace on the counter is important. We want to always carry that threat, which is good. Again, he's settling in. New team-mate, new players. He's adamant there's more to come from him, which is great.

“He got another assist, being really positive, not slowing down, trying to shoot on his wrong foot, which is great. Langy can anticipate that and put the ball in. He's playing his part.”

Meanwhile, Brad Potts is set for an important period in his recovery in the coming days after returning to Preston North End training.

Both he and Andrew Hughes, who picked up an injury against Wolves last month, were at Euxton on Monday. They were working on their fitness before the rest of the squad travelled down to Watford, and Heckingbottom is hoping to have them back in match-day squads soon.

Potts hasn’t featured for PNE since playing a full 90 against Southampton on the last day of the 2025/26 season. He suffered an injury during the off-season and Heckingbottom said last week that the training sessions during the international break in a fortnight’s time will be important for him.

When asked for a further update on his progress, he told the Lancashire Post: “Pottsy trained today, which is good. He'll have another big session tomorrow, and then obviously next week will be huge for him because we're in all week and we can train properly.

“It's probably a good day for him today to come in, not too much happened, which is fine. We'll have some more football with him Thursday.

“He’ll probably need extra again on Friday and over the weekend, but for me and for Brad, the things that we know he's missing is the football. So next week he'll be able to get exposed to a lot more of that.”

Heckingbottom says that next week will be a significant one for his whole squad. Their game on Saturday against Lincoln City will be their seventh game in 22 days, so next week will give them much-needed time on the training pitch to gel with no midweek game being played.

“Yes, important week for all of us. For the new boys, as I said, building relationships, for us to be working with them, for us to see what we've done well and what we need to improve. It gives us a few days to do that.”

Pol Valentin was left out of the squad for Saturday’s derby game. It was the first time this season that Heckingbottom had to leave out a fit senior player from a 20-man matchday squad.

While the conversation will have been difficult, Heckingbottom is pleased that North End now have the squad depth for him to have a strong bench and a selection headache.

“Like I said, we want to welcome back Pottsy and Hughesy as well and I'd like to be doing that while everyone's still fit. Then an XI hopefully picks itself if you're performing well or you're just making little tweaks to it, but if not, you've got the best possible squad then to choose from and likewise your options from the bench too.

“So long as players prepare properly and understand that at any moment it can change, then they do the right things and they get in. And like I said, a manager's job is not to pick your favourite players or who you think your best players are. It's to try and get a team together that wins and we've had a lot of changes so everyone's still competing to be in that winning team.”

North End take on Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday (September 8), with a 7.45pm kick-off.