Sean Maguire didn't have his best season in 2019/20, losing his scoring touch for large parts of the campaign. He ended up with five goals in 44 appearances for Preston, which was half the amount he managed in only 26 games back in 2017/18.
While Maguire has been used mainly as a left winger, he will expect to have had a better return.
The 26-year had entered the final 12 months of his contract at Deepdale recently, leading to some speculation over his future. That has now been put to bed.
It was announced this afternoon that the Irishman had signed a two-year extension to his deal, keeping him at Preston until 2023.
Speaking to the club's official website, he said that he was delighted to get the deal done.
I am absolutely over the moon. I am heading into my fourth year at Preston North End.
Last year was a bit disappointing in the way it ended – not making the Play-Offs – but I feel like this year can be our year with the players that we have.
It was a very easy decision. I have loved my last three years here at the club; playing out here at Deepdale and away from home with the following we take with us and the fans have made a massive impact on the decision I have made.
I love the lads, the manager and the staff and I am absolutely delighted to get it done.
With a new manager at the helm, Maguire will now be looking at making an impact at international level. He started only one Euro 2020 qualifier under Mick McCarthy (the game in Gibraltar), although he did manage to get his first Ireland goal in the November friendly against New Zealand.
He will be eyeing a bigger role under Stephen Kenny. However, the Kilkenny native knows his goalscoring form will have to improve. That is something he is hoping to do in the coming months, with promotion the Premier League also a personal and team goal.
I believe in myself. I know I can catch fire at the start of the season. It is not rocket science that I didn’t have a great season goal tally wise [last season].
I scored five goals, played a lot of games and I was disappointed not to score more goals.
I leave everything out on the pitch and that is the easy part, but the fans have stuck by me and backed me through the tough times and hopefully now I can recreate the form I have shown in the last three years and I can help this club into the Premier League.
