Preston winger Scott Sinclair can kick-on after netting his first PNE goal says Alex Neil

Sinclair found the net in style against Swansea City at Deepdale, that his third start for the club since last month’s arrival from Celtic.

Off the mark, PNE boss Neil expects to see plenty more goals and exciting play from the 31-year-old.

Neil said: “It is always important for a forward to get his first goal.

“That is especially so for a high profile signing like Scott who has played for certain clubs and won things.

“Everyone is thinking and saying ‘Show us what you have got’ and now he has put that to bed.

“Now we can work to get him up to top speed as quickly as possible.

“I thought Scott looked sharper against Swansea, he get into pockets on the half turn – he was very good.

“We just need to work on the movement when he has turned in terms of him sliding balls down the side.

“At times in the Swansea game we ended-up a bit narrow as a team.

“If Scott comes inside off the wide that is alright but then Tom Barkhuizen has to try and hold his width.

“It’s something we can work on and there is a lot to be encouraged about.”

Sinclair became North End’s 14th different scorer in Championship this action, while 16 in total have netted in all competitions.

After the Swansea game Neil did admit to the difficulty of fitting all of his attacking players into the side.

You got the impression he wanted to play a natural striker – David Nugent or Jayden Stockley.

But he also wanted to stick with the players who had featured in the 3-0 win at Barnsley in the previous game.

So Barkhuizen led the attack, flanked by Sinclair on the right and Harrop tucked in on the left.

Daniel Johnson played as the advanced midfielder, with Alan Browne helping Ben Pearson anchor the midfield.

If not used as the No.10, Neil sees Harrop’s strength as coming inside off the left.

That is also Sinclair’s best position, hence Neil’s use of the word ‘shoehorn’ when it came to picking the team.

Said Neil: “Josh and Scott do their work particularly well off the same side.

“It just so happens that we sign Scott and then Josh comes alive and has started to do really well. Both have got goals in them.”