Practice paid off for Preston North End’s Carabao Cup matchwinner

Delano Burgzorg hopes his first match as a Preston North End player was a sign of things to come this season.

Twenty-four hours after joining on a season-long loan from Middlesbrough, Burgzorg made his debut in last Saturday’s Carabao Cup shootout win against Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park.

The 27-year-old and fellow new face Jusef Erabi were brought on by Paul Heckingbottom during the second half with Huddersfield leading through Radinio Balker.

However, in added time, PNE’s new boys combined as Burgzorg put the ball into the box and Erabi finished neatly to earn a 1-1 draw and penalties.

Having seen Erabi convert North End’s second spot-kick, Burgzorg sealed their place in the next round by scoring the decisive penalty.

Speaking afterwards, Burgzorg said: “To be honest, I learned it a lot of times just at home, just practicing and practicing.

“At the end, (you’ve got to) just be calm, relax the mind and just get it in the back of the net.

“It was good. It’s my first game so I hope I can score more goals and give more assists to make the fans happy.”

Burgzorg’s arrival gives Heckingbottom another option in attack alongside Erabi, Callum Lang and Milutin Osmajic.

Having created one goal and a winning penalty during a 25-minute cameo, the Dutchman has no qualms as to where he features for North End this season.

Next up is Saturday’s opening game of the Championship campaign, which sees them make the trip to Bolton Wanderers.

He said: “We were good in the first half but we didn’t get chances. After, we go for it with 10 men.

“I think we kept believing and it did us good at the end.

“I think on the right or the left side, it doesn’t matter where I’m going to play.

“I think I did a good job there. Hopefully it was a good ball and Jusef just tapped it in.

“I think it (Bolton) is a rival game so I’m ready to get the three points, let’s go for it.”