Ryan Lowe has admitted that he wanted to sign Kaedyn Kamara for Plymouth Argyle before taking the Preston North End job.
PNE quietly secured the signing of Kamara last year as the teenager left the Burnley ranks.
Kamara was included in the travelling North End party for the Carabao Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers in May.
Boss Lowe is clearly a big fan of Kamara and gave him his senior debut for North End in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town.
Kamara was only on the pitch for a few moments but you can take nothing away from him as he secured a professional debut at just 17.
The hope is that Kamara will now kick on and develop into a quality midfield player for North End – and Lowe has liked him for some time now.
Lowe has told Lancs Live that he actually wanted to sign Kamara for Plymouth Argyle.
Kamara was leaving Burnley and Lowe was seemingly aware of the teenager, who hails from Liverpool just like Lowe.
Lowe knew that PNE wanted Kamara at the time, so it was just a strange twist of fate that he was able to sign the talent after all.
Lowe also praised Kamara’s performance levels of late, believing that he has fully earned his chance in the senior side.
“He’s a good player and it’s a funny story really. I was going to take him down to Plymouth when I was the Plymouth Argyle manager. Preston were trying to sign him and lo and behold I get the job a couple of weeks later.”
“He had been released by Burnley, I got the job a few weeks later and he couldn’t wait to sign the contract – because he knew, eventually, that if we were doing well and the kids were doing well, he’d get opportunities under me. He certainly got that, but credit to him because he’s been performing at good levels to get called up to the first team,” he added.
Kamara’s brother Odel is a professional boxer, with Lowe highlighting that he comes from a family of real athletes.
Kamara’s early debut – and his history with Burnley as well as Lowe’s long-term admiration – will make him a name for PNE fans to keep tabs on for years to come.