The Durham-born target man - who turned 23 the month before arriving at Deepdale - signed a three-and-a-half year contract in January 2008 and cost North End an undisclosed fee in the region of £400,000.

Brown started his career with Sunderland - the club he supported as a boy - and spent time on loan with Doncaster and Hull while gaining experience. Twelve months before his Deepdale move, he departed the Stadium of Light for Carrow Road having scored nine goals in 66 appearances for the Mackens, joining the East Anglian club for a fee of £325,000.

A hamstring injury hampered the early stages of his Canaries career, and he went on to make 15 appearances for them in 2007.

At 6'1" he offers a good arial threat, but his main strength is the way he holds the ball up and brings other players into the game, chipping in with some valuable goals in Preston's bid to climb away from the relegation trapdoor.

Preston fans have already warmed to their new number 9, whose arrival has been a breath of fresh air for both parties after their respective toils throughout 2007.