Sprint coach Tony Clarke has joined up with Preston for pre-season training as Ryan Lowe leaves no stone unturned this summer.
North End players returned to pre-season training on Monday as pre-season starts to get moving.
Preston will take on Bamber Bridge in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, giving fans a first glimpse of new signings Freddie Woodman and David Cornell.
There will also be a chance to see trialist Ben Woodburn after his arrival at Euxton earlier this week.
Woodburn isn’t the only surprise face brought in by Lowe though, with coach Clarke now on board too.
Tony Clarke has joined up with Preston
Goal’s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones has taken to Twitter to note that sprint coach Clarke has joined up with Preston for pre-season.
Clarke is a Liverpool-based coach so will likely be very familiar to North End boss Lowe.
A coach at Liverpool Harriers running club, Clarke could be something of a secret weapon for Preston.
Jones spoke to Clarke earlier this year after he made a huge impact on the way Manchester City star Phil Foden sprints.
Clarke told Foden’s agent Owen Brown that Foden wasn’t using his body to its maximum potential when sprinting.
Foden called up Clarke and the pair worked together closely with Clarke rebuilding the way Foden sprinted over his first three steps.
Foden felt a remarkable difference, telling Clarke that he felt like a ‘rocket’ on the pitch thanks to Clarke’s work.
That kind of endorsement from one of England’s top players has to leave Preston fans feeling like Lowe has found a real gem here.
Other players like Conor Coady and Lee Peltier – two Liverpudlians – also work closely with Clarke to try and improve their sprinting form.
This North End squad has been criticised for lacking some pace at times and Lowe will certainly be looking for Clarke to make a big difference this summer.