One player who will have particularly enjoyed the Friday night 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers is Preston-born Kian Best.
The defender lined up as part of a three man and then four man defence during the game, and gave a solid display to help limit Rovers to just one goal.
It was an absorbing encounter with both teams chasing the win, and the celebrations after Liam Lindsay’s winner were a joy to watch, with Best and the rest of his teammates enjoying every second of it.
It made it five wins from seven games at Ewood Park in recent years, and Preston fans once again had the bragging rights in the Lancashire derby.
It was the first time this season Kian Best completed the full 90 minutes, having been substituted off in his previous five starts. Although Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics did score once, that came from an opening down our right side.
Blackburn posed a threat for the majority of the game but Best was strong in the tackle, blocking many advances up the pitch. It was a tense game and it would be easy for an 18-year-old to be overwhelmed in this fixture but Best coped admirably.
He also made 14 passes into the final third, and whipped in a wonderful cross for Milutin Osmajic which he crashed against the crossbar. Best only turned 18 in August but has fitted into the Preston team very well.
Andrew Hughes has had his injury issues of late, and is currently out with Greg Cunningham, so Best has slotted into the left side of the back three. He can also play as a left-wing-back but Liam Millar currently has the nod over Robbie Brady for that one.
The win at Ewood Park came on the back of Best receiving a call-up to the England Under-19 squad earlier in the week. The defender will travel with the national youth squad to Marbella for three game this week against Romania, Japan and Mexico with the first of those coming on Wednesday.
The Preston player will follow in the footsteps of David Nugent and Andy Lonergan as Lilywhites to have donned The Three Lions badge whilst at the club.
Best is also joined in the squad by Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, and Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.
It’s been an exciting start to the season for Best and hopefully he can continue to progress, as it’s all the more special watching ‘one of our own’ come through the ranks in the way he has done.