Surprise loan link for PNE winger Daryl Horgan

It was claimed by a national newspaper that the Ammies were eyeing loans for Horgan and PNE team-mate Connor Simpson.

Teenage striker Simpson played for Salford on Friday as a trialist in a friendly against Burnley Under-23s, with the National League side wanting to run the rule over him.

But it is understood that they will not be taking him on loan at this stage.

The link with Horgan comes as a surprise though, bearing in mind he has played a full part in pre-season.

It also begs the question as to whether an international player would drop out of the Football League.

On Saturday he scored the second goal in PNE’s 3-0 win at Oldham, firing home a shot from outside the box.

Horgan featured in all six pre-season friendlies, with his focus on re-establishing himself in Alex Neil’s plans.

Last season, he started two league games and came off the bench 18 times.

Scottish Premiership side Hibernian enquired about taking him on a season’s loan earlier this month but were knocked back.

With Horgan in the final year of his current contract, PNE loaning him out for the full season would effectively be ending his Deepdale stay and they would be supplementing part of his wages – something which would not appeal.

Horgan’s performances in pre-season have not done him any harm in terms of being in the first-team picture.

The former Dundalk man has looked lively throughout, his goal at Boundary Park coming after his introduction as a sub at the interval.

As for Salford’s interest in Simpson, the 18-year-old is someone North End would like to get out on loan to get first-team experience.

The £50,000 January buy from Hartlepool was signed as one for the future.

He had a spell on loan at Lancaster City towards the end of last season.

Further speculation over the weekend saw Bradford linked with Preston striker Eoin Doyle. That could well be interest which comes to fruition in the coming days.

North End are looking to sell Doyle, the Irish frontman having previously turned down moves to Aberdeen and Peterborough for personal reasons.

On the incoming front, Preston sources have knocked back social media rumours of a move for Derby striker Cameron Jerome.

His name has been doing the rounds for much of the summer, largely due to the fact he played under Alex Neil at Norwich.

Jerome, who turns 32 in August, joined the Rams from Norwich in January.

He scored six goals in their push for the top six last term, one of them in the play-off semi-final against Fulham.