Paul Heckingbottom on what Preston North End’s new signings will add

Paul Heckingbottom is pleased with his two deadline day additions and is excited about what they will bring to the Preston North End squad.

On Tuesday, PNE completed their summer business with Johnny Kenny arriving on a four-year deal from Celtic while midfielder Liam Gibbs joined on loan from Norwich City.

In a career spent mainly in Ireland and Scotland, Kenny’s only experience in English football so far has been in the second half of last season, playing for Bolton Wanderers, then of League One.

He scored six goals in 14 games, also registering three assists, and Heckingbottom says the £3m striker’s move to Deepdale is the natural next stage in his career.

“It’s the next step, isn't it?”, he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“He's really keen to get going. We think he's a lively forward, loves to get his shots off, a mobile centre-forward, likes playing the last line, will work hard against the ball as well.

“He picked up an injury at the end of the season, so he's missed pre-season. We're going to, again, build him up, but he was on the bench for Celtic the other week, so we know he's fit and ready to go.

“He's just not had much football, but we're really pleased to get him. I think for us it's another step forward in terms of a young, hungry player who's now ours, rather than a young loan player who we’re potentially losing again.”

As for Liam Gibbs, Heckingbottom confirmed he has been brought in to play in his natural role as a midfielder.

He has been deployed in various positions during his time with the Canaries, from defence to on the wing and in the centre of pitch.

“The midfield is what we've brought him in for. I think when he broke into the team under Dean [Smith], he was the holding midfielder, if you like, but he's mobile, he's got a lot of energy.

“I spoke to him about the different ways we play with midfielders and the potential roles he could perform for us.

“I know he can fill in in different positions. In his last game in the [Carabao] Cup for Norwich, and when he played a lot towards the back end of the season, [he was] on the left, but we've not brought him in as a winger or a wide player. We've brought him in as a midfielder.”

Heckingbottom has been pleased with the way in which his many new signings have settled over the summer.

Scorer Caleb Wiley and Stanley Mills had impressive home debuts on Tuesday night despite a 3-1 defeat to Bristol City, and the PNE boss says they have already shown the qualities they were recruited for.

“I think what they've done is shown why we brought them in, which is good, really important,” he told the Lancashire Post.

“All the new signings have shown on the pitch as well to the fans what they are as footballers in terms of their attributes. It's getting everyone on the same page.

“We've welcomed two more good new players for us, which is great, that job is done.

“Now it's time to get to work and build those relationships and get everyone understanding their role in the team. We can't just rely on individual performances.

“We have to make sure that those performances are part of a real good team performance that gets us the points.”