Ryan Lowe has praised Finlay Cross-Adair after the Preston teenager made his first-team debut against Stoke City on Saturday.
North End hosted Stoke on Saturday with Potters boss Alex Neil making his first return to Deepdale since leaving Preston in March 2021.
Lowe will have been hoping for three points after Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, but it was sadly another loss.
Will Smallbone and Tyrese Campbell got themselves on the scoresheet for Stoke, securing a win for Neil and another strange turn in Preston’s season.
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Two wins against West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City appeared to have Preston right on track, but they have been followed up by two defeats.
There were few positives to speak of on Saturday afternoon but a debut for Finlay Cross-Adair was something to get excited about.
Cross-Adair, 17, is as Preston as it gets; born in Preston, a boyhood Preston fan, from a family of North End supporters and a product of the club’s youth setup.
Cross-Adair came up for first-team training during the international break in September and appears to have made an impression on Lowe.
Add in the injury to Troy Parrott, the illness of Mikey O’Neill and Cross-Adair’s goal against Wrexham in the Central League in midweek and it all just worked in the teenager’s favour.
Cross-Adair made his debut as a substitute and whilst he couldn’t help turn the tide, this was a day that he will always remember.
Lowe has now offered praise for Cross-Adair, suggesting to North End’s official media that the striker has been ‘tremendous’ of late, presumably both in matches and in training.
It’s a big ask for Cross-Adair to nail down first-team playing time but you just never know.
North End aren’t blessed with great striking options right now and with games coming thick and fast, Cross-Adair will know that he has a chance to really make a name for himself.