Just over a month on from Daryl Horgan's Preston debut, a promising 10 minute cameo in the FA Cup against Arsenal, the former Dundalk winger appears to have settled well. He's made five appearances in all, including two starts.
Horgan has had to adapt since his move to the Championship. Speaking to the Lancashire Evening Post, the 24-year-old said one of the main differences has been the transition from evening training sessions at Dundalk (a necessity due to many players being part-time) to morning ones with Preston.
It was evening sessions back home. We were pretty much full-time but a couple of the lads had jobs as well so that would mean you’d train in the evenings. You would do your gym work in the morning and then train at 6pm. I was still in the gym at the crack of dawn back home.
It’s a different set-up here but one that’s going to be good for me. I’m enjoying the training, with it being in the morning – it’s brilliant.
Playing in the Europa League definitely helped me get up to the intensity a lot quicker.
Preston are currently 11th in the Championsip, seven points outside the playoff places. Horgan wants his new side to push for one of those playoff places.
I’ve said ever since I came that there’s a brilliant squad. You don’t even have to look at the bench – look at the players who aren’t even on the bench. Anyone within the squad could do a job and bring something different. For the manager to have those decisions to make, it’s obviously not easy for him. To be honest we’ve a very strong squad.
From a team point of view, I want to push for the play-offs and get as high as we possibly can. It definitely won’t be out of our grasp, it’ll be difficult but that will have to be the aim.
Personally I’m just going to try and get into the team as much as a possibly can. When I do I’ve got to try and affect games and stay in the manager’s mind.
