Preston will soon face a decision on midfielder Adam O’Reilly with the Irishman returning from St. Pat’s Athletic later this month.
North End swooped to sign O’Reilly back in December 2016 having impressed on trial.
O’Reilly joined from Ringmahon Rangers in Cork, the same club where Alan Browne initially emerged before joining Cork City.
Browne has become a first-team star and even club captain at Preston, so there were hopes that O’Reilly would follow in his footsteps.
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O’Reilly is now 21 and we’re now approach six years since his arrival yet there still hasn’t been a big breakthrough at Preston.
The midfielder came off the bench for a first-team debut against Aston Villa back in December 2018, but that remains his only senior appearance for North End.
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After loan spells at Hyde United, Stalybridge Celtic, Bamber Bridge, Waterford and Stalybridge again, O’Reilly joined St. Pat’s Athletic in January.
Joining on a loan deal until July 31st, O’Reilly headed back to Ireland for first-team football and the move is working out perfectly.
O’Reilly was named St. Pat’s Player of the Month for June and he will be playing in Europa Conference League action next Thursday.
O’Reilly’s loan deal ends later this month and he will then return to Preston, so what comes next for the Irishman?
With just one year left on his contract, O’Reilly may well be eyeing a permanent exit from North End.
Reports from Echo Live in Ireland suggest that Italian side Como – playing in Italy’s second tier – are interested in signing O’Reilly.
That would be a fascinating move for O’Reilly and something completely new for his career whilst moving to a truly beautiful part of the world.
Could O’Reilly stay at Preston? It’s hard to see how he can break into the team regardless of his potential.
North End are stacked in midfield with Ben Whiteman, Ryan Ledson, Alan Browne, Ali McCann and Daniel Johnson all in contention whilst new signing Ben Woodburn can also play there.
Add in high hopes for Dana Amaral and O’Reilly may need to leave Preston – and Ryan Lowe will likely have to make a firm decision later this summer before O’Reilly can leave for nothing in 2023.