Alan Browne has racked up almost 300 appearances for Preston North End, but finds himself in a tricky situation this season.
Snapped up from Cork City for just £10,000 in 2014, Browne quickly became a first-team player under Simon Grayson.
Almost eight years on, Browne’s importance at PNE cannot be overstated.
The Irishman was particularly outstanding in the 2018-19 season, bagging 12 goals from midfield.
Alex Neil turned Browne into a number 10, making him a key part of the PNE side.
Last season, Browne penned a new contract until 2023. Given the captain’s armband after Tom Clarke’s departure, it looked like Browne would be immovable from the PNE side.
Right now though, this may be the most difficult period of Browne’s time at Deepdale.
Browne’s form deserted him earlier in the season. There was one incident with an unhappy PNE fan away at Huddersfield in August, which wasn’t ideal as club captain.
You also have to ask where Browne fits into this current PNE side.
In the number 10 role, Daniel Johnson offers more creativity than Browne as well as being a goal threat. Johnson looks almost undroppable in that role, meaning Browne may have to drop deeper.
That hasn’t really been Browne’s best role though. For all of Browne’s qualities, and there are many – his effort, tenacity, driving runs forward, ability to break into the box to score – his usage of the ball in deeper areas has been questioned.
Ryan Ledson and Ben Whiteman have been first choice in that area, whilst Ali McCann has now been signed there too.
Browne did come on for McCann at Queens Park Rangers, but was partly at fault for the winning goal.
We all know how good Browne can be – we’ve seen it for nearly eight years.
Right now though, it’s unclear just where Browne fits in this team, or whether he even fits in the starting lineup at all based on form.
Let’s hope the 26-year-old can get back to his best soon, as Frankie McAvoy needs his skipper at the top of his game.