Mells returned back to Deepdale for the beginning of the 2011/12 season following a season long loan spell at League One side Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Liverpool trainee impressed during his time at Hillsborough, hitting 20 goals in all competitions, leading to PNE boss Phil Brown admitting he wants to keep the striker at Deepdale.

Mellor could be the ideal strike partner to link up with Iain Hume, and going off the pair's track record they will be one of the deadliest strike forces in the division.
The Sheffield-born striker made his first mark on the game as a fresh-faced rookie striker for the red half of Merseyside, grabbing memorable goals for the Reds.

Mellor's most famous strikes for Liverpool came against Olympiakos in the year that the Reds won the Champions League trophy and a last minute winner against Arsenal. Those goals proved to be the striker's highlights at Anfield.

Injury problems have hampered the 28-year-old throughout his career, and didn't help his progress at Anfield despite his promising start.

Following loan spells at West Ham and Wigan, Mellor joined PNE in the summer of 2006.

The striker was limited to just seven appearances in his first full season for the Lilywhites but was the Club's top scorer as Preston battled against relegation in the 2007/08 campaign. His excellent solo effort against Sheffield United was the pick of the bunch, and was later nominated for the North West goal of the season award.

Mellor continued his good form since and was top scorer again for PNE last season with 12 goals, including the headed effort at Bloomfield Road which sent North End on the way to the famous 3-1 win over old rivals Blackpool.

18 months later Mellor temporally departed Deepdale to join former manager Alan Irvine in his home town of Sheffield, and had his most prolific season as a professional football.

Preston fans will be hoping Neil can rekindle the magic shown last season and fire the Lilywhites back to the Championship.