Preston North End take on Stoke City in the Championship tonight, with Ali McCann no doubt looking to make his first league start.
McCann has only come on as a substitute for PNE since completing a deadline day move from St Johnstone.
Yet with games coming thick and fast, the Northern Irish star may be hoping to sneak into Frankie McAvoy’s side tonight.
McAvoy comments on McCann
PNE boss Frankie McAvoy has been speaking about McCann ahead of tonight’s game.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, McAvoy suggested that McCann was ‘excellent’ against Birmingham City.
McAvoy added that McCann is ‘ready’ and ‘desperate’ to play, which could end up coming tonight.
“Ali McCann came on the other day and was excellent again,” said McAvoy. “You saw him in the cup game, you can see he’s ready to play, he’s desperate to play,” he added.
Stoke missed out to PNE for McCann
If McCann does end up playing against Stoke City tonight, he would be facing a team that wanted to sign him.
Stoke were linked with a move to sign McCann over the summer, weeks before his £1.2million switch to PNE was completed.
Stoke boss Michael O’Neill is no doubt well aware of the best Northern Irish talents out there, and international McCann was on his wish list.
PNE ended up winning the race, and McCann may have a chance to show what Stoke are missing tonight.