Graham Alexander makes Greg Docherty decision after playing for Preston North End U21s

Preston North End are hoping to ‘potentially progress’ with Greg Docherty and sign the free agent after Graham Alexander was left impressed by his performance for the Under-21s this week.

Docherty has been training with Preston for over a week with a view to signing on a Bosman transfer following his release from Charlton Athletic in September.

Alexander wants to bolster his squad options ahead of the January transfer window with Preston struggling at the bottom of the table. Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United means they’re nine points and a seven-goal swing from safety.

After talking with Docherty on Wednesday, Alexander says North End are now looking to get him signed to a deal in the next couple of days.

The manager told BBC Radio Lancashire ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton: “We've had a brief chat with him this afternoon.

“He played Monday night for the Under-21s and did really well. He's trained again this morning.

“I had a little chat with him after lunchtime to get his thoughts on things so I think we're going to see if we can potentially progress that in the next couple of days.

“He's a lad who's been a captain, a promotion winner, played in the Championship. At this stage of the season, being in between windows, there's not many of that type around. I think he's really enjoyed his time with us in the last week to 10 days.”

Docherty could ‘potentially’ be involved on Saturday if signed

Preston will be light on midfield options for the visit of the Saints, as Leo Leroy is suspended for the game after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign.

Despite being without a club for two months, Docherty has remained in good condition and his fitness levels are high enough to be involved if the signing goes off without a hitch.

“Potentially, yeah,” he said when asked if he is fit enough to get straight into the squad.

“I got his data from Monday night and you can see it anyway in training last week and we gave him a fitness test all the players have been through in pre-season, his score was really, really good.

“He's not trained with a team since he left his previous club on the last day of the window but you can see he's looked after himself. You can see he's done the right things. When a player's not been with a club for that period of time, then you can see he can pick up training and level of the game you already know you're getting a good professional.

“So I think he's shown that in the past 10 days but certainly he won't be at the level to churn out 95 minutes every three days but we do have the international break and then back into the fixtures to see how he is. “

Alexander’s verdict on Docherty performance

Docherty played 62 minutes in the Under-21s’ 1-0 Premier League Cup victory over Fleetwood Town, with young centre-back Isaac Irwin grabbing the winner.

Alexander was left impressed by the 30-year-old midfielder’s display, especially with how vocal he was with his young teammates.

He added: “Performance, training levels, quality of player, important at any level of football you want to have good players.

“Whether you're at the bottom end or top end of the table, you're going to need characters and personality and people who have been there before. I think we mentioned it before about recruiting captains, promotion winners because of what they bring, what they've been through and how they've learned the game.

“Greg ticks the boxes on those levels. Even though he's new to the group and he's only trained with us, he still really communicates on the pitch, in the changing room.

“We could see that on Monday night with a load of Under-21 players who he's hardly trained with and he's barking orders, encouraging them, helping them through the game.

“The more people you get like that, and I think we have players already in the squad, the more you have the stronger your group is.”