A period of his career which started so well for Daryl Horgan went off the boil last season.
The Ireland international began promisingly at Preston when joining from Dundalk in January of last year. He made ten starts in the Championship - 19 appearances in all - scoring two goals and adding three assists.
Last season - his first full one at the club - that was reduced to just two starts in the league and a further 18 appearances off the bench.
The Irish Sun's Neil O'Riordan reported last month that 25-year-old is one of four Irish players - the others being Eoin Doyle, Andy Boyle and Kevin O'Connor - who had been told they were free to leave Preston if the right offer comes along.
Horgan has been linked with a loan move to Hibs. With just a year left on his contract, a move to the Scottish Premiership - barring one where he tears it up earning him a new deal - would likely signal the end of his time at the club.
Despite reportedly being surplus to Preston manager Alex Neil's plans, there is still hope for his future at the club.
"At this stage of the season you are always going to get speculation about players," Neil told the Lancashire Evening Post when asked about Horgan being linked with Hibs.
Neil said that Horgan has a chance to impress during pre-season.
Last year Daryl didn’t play as much as he would have liked but he has an opportunity now in pre-season to go and showcase what he can do.
It’s up to him to perform to the point which makes me think, ‘We have to give him game-time, he has to play’.
Hopefully Daryl can go and do that.
Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
