Preston North End boss delivers verdict on possible reunion with AFC Bournemouth man next season
The AFC Bournemouth man has spent the season on loan at Deepdale
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom would be interested in bringing Daniel Jebbison back next season.
Alfie Devine and Lewis Dobbin have stole the show this campaign but the Canadian has been called upon in 37 games, scoring six goals and assisting two - though only one of those strikes has come since the turn of the year.
Jebbison, after a tough time at Watford last year, has felt strong support from the Deepdale faithful. After the Gentry Day win over Charlton Athletic, he told club media he has felt like a permanent Preston player.
He has two years left to run on his AFC Bournemouth contract, having made 21 appearances for the Cherries and scored three goals. This season has seen Jebbison get much needed game time, with PNE already the club he has represented most in his career.
Heckingbottom, in recent weeks, has spoken about trying to retain loan players where possible. Jebbison, whom Preston’s boss handed a Premier League debut to at the age of 17, is no exception.
“Yeah, all the loan players, but they're not ours,” said Heckingbottom. “Jebbo's got outstanding attributes, which I know will catch the attention of people all over Europe, definitely. But again, we do do that well, we give them a good chance here, the dressing room's great.
“When I sit with the loan player, they know they're going to get an opportunity and it's over to them. They've got to show it, but we're not going to waste money. If there's no intention to play the loan player, it's pointless. So, they're going to get an opportunity, it's over to them, they've got to step up and show it.
“Jebbo was a gamble in more people's eyes than mine because they look at what he's been doing. I think he's just getting back to where I knew him, because he's not played enough football, he's not been pushed enough. He's been too sloppy, he's just not been hammered into what he's producing at the minute.
“His standout qualities are his physical attributes and it’s the longest period of training he's had now while he's been with us... availability, game time, these are big, big things for him. I still think he's got more physical attributes to come, I really do. I think he'll get bigger and he'll get stronger. I think there's more to come from him.”