Preston North End

  1. A side-by-side of Birmingham City's Chris Davies pointing and Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna applauding

  2. (Left to right) Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield, Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer, Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna and Coventry boss Frank Lampard.

  4. A line-up of 25/26 Championship football shirts; Bristol City's third kit, Blackburn Rovers' away kit, Norwich City's third kit and Oxford United's away kit

  5. Preston North End's Milutin Osmajic celebrates

  6. Richard Kone applauds

  7. 'It was sad to leave Preston but I didn't want to retire' - Evans

    Evans: 'I loved it at Preston'

    Former Preston North End striker Ched Evans is pleased he could leave the club this summer on good terms.

    The 36-year-old was offered a coaching role at the Championship side but instead opted for a return to League Two club Fleetwood Town for a third spell.

    "It took me months to make a decision because ultimately if I take the [coaching] job, I'm retired," Evans told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    Evans made eight substitute appearances in the Championship last season but still maintains a good relationship with manager Paul Heckingbottom.

    "I had to accept it and as the manager, he has a plan.

    "We left on really good terms, I wish him all the best. Although it was a sad thing because I loved it at Preston, the love for football outweighed that."

    Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

    Black banner saying 'Listen on Sounds'

  8. Richard Kone

  9. Ched Evans (right) in action for Preston North End against Norwich City at Carrow Road

  10. Preston North End player Andrija Vukcevic, pictured playing for Montenegro

  11. Ched Evans

  13. 'I can't wait to get going' - new striker Smith

    Michael SmithRex Features

    New Preston North End signing Michael Smith says he "can't wait to get going" following his move from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this week.

    The 33-year-old left the Owls after his contract was ended by "mutual consent" along with former team-mate Josh Windass, who has subsequently moved to Wrexham.

    Smith scored for Wednesday against Preston in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough last December and is looking forward to reuniting with head coach Paul Heckingbottom, who he also worked with during a loan spell at Barnsley in 2015-16.

    "Even at my age, with my experience, it's still always a little bit nerve-wracking coming into a new club but it seems like a good group to be a part of," Smith told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    "The settling in period comes and goes really quickly. I'm going to have to play catch up a little bit but I've managed to get some runs in so I can't wait to get going.

    "Obviously I've played under the manager before so I sort of know how he works. I want to come here and keep trying to get better even at my age.

    "I know I've missed the pre-season trip so I'll be spending a lot of time getting to know the squad and on the training ground - hopefully it stands us in good stead come August.

    "I've never had a good game there [at Deepdale] as an away player so I'm looking to change that but it's always been a stadium I've enjoyed playing at."

  14. Michael Smith celebrates in front of the crowd

  17. Vukcevic joins North End for training camp trial

    Andrija Vukcevic playing for MontenegroGetty Images

    Montenegro defender Andrija Vukcevic has joined up with Preston North End for a week-long trial at their training camp in Valencia.

    The 28-year-old, who has 18 international caps, is without a club after leaving Mexican side FC Juarez in July.

    He spent last season on loan to Spanish side FC Cartagena, making 23 appearances in LaLiga2, plus one in their Copa del Rey match against SD Beasain.

    Vukcevic could face a Spanish team during his trial with the Lilywhites as North End's training week will culminate with a pre-season friendly against Getafe.

  18. Liverpool players observe a minute's silence for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva ahead of friendly match at Preston

  19. Jack Whatmough in action for Preston North End

  20. Hecky's rebuild has Preston 'looking stronger' already

    Andy Bayes
    BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

    Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom drinking a bottle of waterGetty Images

    The Paul Heckingbottom rebuild is well under way.

    Half a dozen new players registered before the second week of July, which is ideal for a North End boss experiencing pre-season with the club for the first time.

    Generally, each position should have two players. There is still work to do in that regard, but you can see signs that Heckingbottom's strongest XI (if there is such a thing these days) is looking stronger than it did in May.

    Daniel Iversen will be the undisputed number one. If he's fit, he plays. A seven-figure sum for Odel Offiah from Brighton would also indicate he'll be at the forefront of the manager's thoughts.

    In less than a year, Heckingbottom has changed his number one, added two centre-backs (Offiah and Gibson) and both wing-back positions have undergone surgery with Pol Valentin and Thierry Small arriving to replace Premier League loan players.

    Heckingbottom's go-to formation has been a back three, but Offiah could open the door to switch to a four, should he mix things up from time to time. Offiah's loan at Blackpool last season saw him have a prolonged spell at right-back.

    Small's arrival from Charlton has excited the fan base. This will be his first taste of Championship action at the age of 20 and perhaps he needs time to settle in to the level. His only season of regular first-team football was a promotion with Charlton last season from League One.

    Valentin offers more experience at 28 and has been in and out of Sheffield Wednesday's starting XI over the past two years.

    The forward area is the one in most need of further reinforcements. Emil Riis and Ched Evans are no longer on the roster.

    Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic have both been linked with moves away but a departure for either is extremely unlikely unless the numbers in that department drastically change.

    Canada international Daniel Jebbison, a loan arrival from Bournemouth, has played under Heckingbottom before at Sheffield United, and he's come to play. His goal output is an area to work on, but with regular football and belief from his manager, he'll be given every opportunity.

    It's a case of watch this space for more forwards to move to Deepdale. If another loan from a top-flight club is being sought, that might have to wait for Premier League overseas trips to conclude.

    As for the engine room, Jordan Thompson is a reliable option with Championship experience under his belt. He's made 42 starts in the last three second-tier seasons and addresses Heckingbottom's admission that his midfield was lacking left-footed options.

    So, six in, so far… it wouldn't be a shock if we're talking double figures in terms of arrivals by the time the window closes.

  21. Odel Offiah in action for Blackpool

  23. 'Kesler-Hayden is pretty dynamic - a really strong athlete'

    Preston journalist on Kesler-Hayden

    "He's pretty dynamic - he's a really strong athlete and really pacy as well."

    "He's still 22, and there's still improvement to come but on the whole Preston would have loved to have kept him."

    BBC CWR's Will Oelrich spoke to BBC Lancashire's Gary Hunt about Coventry's rumoured pursuit of Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who spent last season on loan at Preston North End.

    Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

  24. Emil Riis Jakobsen clapping at the end of a match for Preston