With the end of the transfer window looming, Preston North End are still in need of some reinforcements.
One striker at least, has to be the priority with the side having only managed one goal in the Championship in the five games played so far.
But from the outset of the summer, Ryan Lowe stated he wanted to strengthen the wing-back areas.
That has been done on the left-hand side with Robbie Brady joining on a free transfer, and Alvaro Fernandez coming in on loan from Manchester United.
Both look like handy acquisitions, with Brady having already shown he can be a key player for us, and Fernandez having a couple of impressive cameos before his injury.
On the right-hand side Brad Potts has started the season admirably.
He scored a stunner to win the game against Luton Town, netted in the cup against Huddersfield Town and has come close with some other cracking efforts along the way as well. He deserves his space in the team at the moment, but he could do with some competition.
We have been linked with an abundance of players to help cover that position but none have come to fruition as of yet.
Ethan Laird and Brooke Norton-Cuffy were the latest, but have gone to Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham United respectively on loan.
Others can fill in that position like Alan Browne but the only other player in the squad who would be comfortable in that role is Matthew Olusunde.
The 24-year-old joined North End in the summer of 2021 after a decent spell at this level with Rotherham. The former Manchester United youngster was expected to be a first-team player, effectively filling the void left by Darnell Fisher.
Olosunde was troubled with injuries last year which delayed his debut for the club. He’d played 72 games in the two seasons prior to joining North End, but took until December to make his first competitive appearance for The Lilywhites.
It was to be Frankie McAvoy’s last game as manager as well in the game against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. It was a poor match, ruined due to the heavy downpour before and during, and the waterlogged pitch could have led to it being called off.
Olusunde played for 82 minutes, and was one of the better players in truth, but it was a baptism of fire to step into a derby match in those conditions.
The American’s only other appearance last season came away to Swansea City as he came on to replace the injured Tom Barkhuizen. Lowe was straight onto his case that game, when a poor cross found its way into the stands rather than into the box.
This summer, it was no surprise to see Olusunde and Josh Harrop made available for transfer.
However with no clubs coming forward for them, Olusunde took part in pre-season training and was given some hope by Lowe with his impressive attitude.
Despite not featuring in the squad in any of the league games, he made the bench in the first round of the cup against Huddersfield Town, and was then handed a start up against Premier League opposition in the second round.
Wolverhampton Wanderers put out a strong team and Olusunde was up against players like Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, new record signing Matheus Nunes, and Rayan Ait Nouri.
It would be a tough encounter for anyone, but especially a player who had just 136 minutes the season before.
Olusunde was beaten for pace by Ait Nouri for the first goal, and then gave away a sloppy penalty on the stroke of half time.
Lowe subbed him off at the break and it completed a trio of tough games for Preston North End.
Will there be another? It looks unlikely, but it may have been a little harsh for Lowe to throw him into this game. If that was his chance, then he’s picked the toughest game of the season to use him. Fans have wondered if it was a message to Peter Ridsdale and the board to convince them we need to invest in another option at right wing back.
Either way Olusunde has had a tough time at the club, and have we ever really seen enough of him to see whether he can be useful for us?
Tuesday night felt like he was a lamb to the slaughter, and it won’t help him in the search for a new club either. Olosunde’s injuries heavily affected his first season with the club, but he’s never been able to recover from the slow start, and it’s been a disaster from the beginning, despite not much of it being his fault.