Preston North End defender Liam Lindsay has hailed teenager Kian Best as he continues to shine in the Championship.
PNE went on the road on Saturday afternoon, heading over the Pennines to take on Sheffield Wednesday.
This wasn’t an absolute classic but North End did enough, securing all three points thanks to a diving header from Liam Lindsay.
That’s seven points from three games to start the season for PNE, a fantastic opening to the new season.
One of the surprise packages in recent weeks has been Best, who has stepped up into first-team football.
Best has come up in the North End youth ranks and whilst he has impressed, few expected him to be making such a big impact this season.
The 17-year-old has been featuring as a left wing back, filling in for the injured Robbie Brady.
PNE ideally still need another signing in that area of the pitch but Best has certainly equipped himself well.
Sure, there have been some ups and downs; Best gave away a penalty against Sunderland last week and coming up against proven Championship wingers is never easy.
Best has provided outstanding quality into the box though and his pinpoint free-kick handed Lindsay the winner on Saturday.
There was an arguably even better cross from Best in the first half as he picked out Brad Potts, whose effort was saved inside the area.
That kind of delivery makes Best a real threat and he has now been praised by teammate and Saturday’s match-winner Lindsay.
Lindsay told iFollow that he thinks Best has ‘done amazing’ in the first team and has bounced back from a rather ‘nervous’ start to life in PNE training.
Lindsay added that Best has been ‘different class’ whilst praising his outstanding quality on his left foot.
“He’s done amazing,” said Lindsay. “I think he would be the first one to say that, in the first training session, he was a bit nervous! But he’s bounced back unbelievably, he’s been different class and he’s got some left foot on him,” he added.