Preston North End has signed attacking full back Alex Nicholson on a deal until the end of the season.
The former Newcastle United youngster will wear the No.28 shirt for the Lilywhites, after impressing manager Simon Grayson enough while training with the squad since pre-season, to earn a full time deal.
Speaking to PNE.Com about the signing of the Wales youth international, the gaffer said: “He is a young lad who we like the look of and hopefully he will develop into a good footballer and be part of the Preston squad for a long time to come.
“He is a right back who can play further up the pitch as well, he has got a good pedigree in terms of his upbringing at Newcastle United.
“He is an attacking full back, he trained with us a few times last year at the back end of the season and he has been with us all pre-season right the way through to now and obviously with one or two going out, it has released a little bit of funds for us to make sure Alex can come in on a full-time basis
“He never thought he was going to make it up there hence why he wanted to leave at the end of last season and we have liked what we saw last year when we watched him and since he has been with us.
“He has been very patient in waiting for this opportunity to get the permanent contract sorted, but he is a player we think we can work with and make better.
“Whether he affects the first team over the next few weeks you will have to wait and see, but he is certainly someone we think we can work with to make better and affect the team in the future.
“He has just signed until the end of the season with the option of extending it at the end of the season for another year.
“It gives us a period of time to work with Alex and for Alex to do as much as he can do to get an extended contract at the end of it.”