Preston need to find a partner for Emil Riis – and Joe Rodwell-Grant is making himself difficult for new boss Ryan Lowe to ignore.
Riis has been outstanding this season but he has yet to play with a regular partner.
Seani Maguire, Ched Evans, Tom Barkhuizen and Scott Sinclair have all had a go up front without nailing down the role.
That may force Lowe and Preston into the transfer market, with some fans wondering if a move could be launched for Luke Jephcott.
Jephcott worked under Lowe at Plymouth Argyle, becoming a prolific goalscorer for the League One side.
Jephcott certainly wouldn’t come cheap – and Lowe may actually have his new Jephcott coming through at Preston.
There are parallels you can draw between Jephcott and North End talent Rodwell-Grant, which should excite Lowe.
When Lowe took over at Plymouth, Jephcott – a youth team product at Plymouth – had made just nine league appearances.
Aged just 19 at the time, Jephcott emerged under Lowe with seven goals in League Two.
Last season, Jephcott stepped up with 16 league goals and already has five in 17 games this term.
If Lowe wants to promote another young striker, Rodwell-Grant may well fit the profile.
Rodwell-Grant is 19, just like Jephcott was upon Lowe’s arrival. Rodwell-Grant is on loan in non-league football with Bamber Bridge, just like Jephcott was with Truro City.
Rodwell-Grant just keeps finding the net. Against Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Fleetwood Town, Bolton Wanderers… it just doesn’t matter, Rodwell-Grant can’t stop scoring in the Central League.
That’s all the teenager can do right now – keep shining in reserve team games. Add in his performances on loan at Bamber Bridge and Rodwell-Grant is taking every opportunity he can.
That’s the kind of thing that catches a manager’s eye. Succeeding in the Championship isn’t easy, but few could blame Rodwell-Grant for seeing what Jephcott did under Lowe and hoping for the same himself.