Armstrong's performances impress McCall

Preston North End assistant manager Stuart McCall says he has been impressed by Harrison Armstrong's performances this season.

Lilywhites midfielder Armstrong, 18, joined on loan from Everton in the summer as one of 12 new signings.

The England Under-19's player made 15 appearances for Derby last season, and has already made nine league appearances for Preston this campaign.

"He [Armstrong] is doing ok - but he needs to stay with us until the end of the season there is no doubt about that," McCall said.

"I looked at all his games he played at Derby. It was his maturity, at Derby, they were fighting for their lives at the the time when he went in, and it was more him doing bits of the game people don't see.

"For an 18-year-old his game intelligence was very good, he is such a popular lad in the dressing room and he gets on with the young and the old.

"I thought he would be good when we managed to get him, and we had to wait until the deadline, but he has been worth it, and better than I would have imagined."

Preston have won their last two games - against Sheffield United and Southampton - and are sat just inside the play-off places in sixth.

"We are always aware of the opposition, and you have got to respect them," McCall told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But we have to concentrate on ourselves - we have got to keep putting in performances."