Josh Harrop completed 75 minutes of competitive football for the first time in a year on Monday. Harrop started Fleetwood Town’s crucial clash with Gillingham in League One as both sides look to stave off relegation.
The game finished in a 0-0 draw but it was good to see Harrop start the game and play for 75 minutes for The Cod Army.
The forgotten Preston North End man has had a troubled time over the last few years with injuries. Harrop arrived from Manchester United in 2017 to much fanfare after scoring on his professional debut for The Red Devils.
21 at the time, he was expected to hit the ground running after being handed a four-year deal at Preston.
Of his 38 League appearances in his first season at Deepdale, only 11 were from the start of the game and an impressive free kick goal against Sunderland was a highlight from his season.
The next campaign was difficult for Josh as he injured his cruciate ligament whilst assisting a late goal in a defeat to West Bromwich Albion early in the season.
That meant his season was cut short but Harrop returned in decent form in the Covid hit season of 2019-20. Some great goals against Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers reminded us of his talent but Alex Neil would rarely give him a decent run in the side. A few starts here and there disrupted Harrop’s season and he never had a sustained run.
In 2020, with one year left on his contract, Harrop was handed a new deal with runs out in 2023. Last season he didn’t see much game time with Preston and was sent on loan to Ipswich Town. One assist and a red card were picked up from 15 games but again only three starts.
Frankie McAvoy left Harrop out of the 25 man squad and he moved on loan to Fleetwood in January. Now 26 and with another year to run on his Preston deal, Harrop is at a crossroads in his career.
Will Ryan Lowe give him a chance? Harrop clearly has talent but just 95 appearances since his arrival in 2017 have meant he’s had limited opportunity to showcase it.
Preston need a creative spark in midfield but it may be too late for Harrop. Izzy Brown is a similar type of player and Lowe will have seen the work he’s been putting in to try and get back to fitness. His contract is expiring but could be handed a new deal on lower terms.