Preston pick up defender

McEveley: Happy with move

Preston have completed the loan signing of Derby defender Jay McEveley.

As revealed by skysports.com, McEveley arrives at Deepdale on a month's emergency loan after Preston lost Michael Hart to injury and Callum Davidson to suspension.

The former Blackburn man is in line to make his debut in Tuesday's clash with Swansea and North End boss Allan Irvine is thankful Derby have agreed to loan out the full-back.

"It's fantastic that we've been able to get a player of Jay's quality in at such short notice," Irvine told the club's official website.

Experience

"Jay is relatively young but he already has plenty of experience both in getting promotion from the Championship and he has played plenty of football in the Premiership.

"We know how difficult it is to get quality players in on loan so we are delighted that Derby manager Paul Jewell allowed him to come to Preston."

McEveley is relishing the prospect of playing for Preston after falling out-of-favour at Pride Park.

"It's something that I have been looking for since I was out of the Derby team," admitted McEveley.

Understanding

"I went to see the manager and he was great, he understood that I needed to play. I got the phone call on Sunday from the Preston manager asking me if I'd like to come to Deepdale and get some games, he wants me here so I was made up.

"When I first heard about the possibility of a move I already knew Preston's position in the league, I knew that they were doing well.

"It seems that every year Preston are doing well and fighting for a top six finish, it's no different this year, the gaffer here has got them firing and playing well and hopefully I can add something to that."