Preston North End have completed the signing of striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on a contract until the end of the season.
The former Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward had been on trial with the Lilywhites since November and has earned a place in Simon Grayson’s squad and will be available for selection for the Club’s FA Cup third round tie with Norwich City on Saturday.
The 28-year-old former Championship player of the year and top scorer will take the No.40 shirt. He has been without a Club since his contract ended with Ipswich Town in the summer, but has spent the last month working hard with the physio and fitness coach at PNE and has impressed his new manager.
Speaking about his new recruit Simon said: “We gave Sylvan the best opportunity. It wasn’t a week’s trial, it was four or five weeks and he has shown he is willing, by staying here and working hard.
“We have seen enough in training to see that his fitness levels have improved all the time, to be close to where he wants to be, but also that he has the ability of being a top striker and a clinical finisher.”
The new recruit added: “I am looking forward to the challenge. The training has been fantastic; the manager was very straight with me and that is what I have needed. For the first day I came in the opportunity was presented to me to be a part of something and I have worked hard ever since to earn a contract.
“It is a new beginning for me. I have a difficult period for the first time in my career and it is how you come out of that and the desire you have to play football and that desire still burns in me and I now have to work hard and prove that desire to myself and to everyone else.”
The 28-year-old former Championship player of the year and top scorer will take the No.40 shirt. He has been without a Club since his contract ended with Ipswich Town in the summer, but has spent the last month working hard with the physio and fitness coach at PNE and has impressed his new manager.
Speaking about his new recruit Simon said: “We gave Sylvan the best opportunity. It wasn’t a week’s trial, it was four or five weeks and he has shown he is willing, by staying here and working hard.
“We have seen enough in training to see that his fitness levels have improved all the time, to be close to where he wants to be, but also that he has the ability of being a top striker and a clinical finisher.”
The new recruit added: “I am looking forward to the challenge. The training has been fantastic; the manager was very straight with me and that is what I have needed. For the first day I came in the opportunity was presented to me to be a part of something and I have worked hard ever since to earn a contract.
“It is a new beginning for me. I have a difficult period for the first time in my career and it is how you come out of that and the desire you have to play football and that desire still burns in me and I now have to work hard and prove that desire to myself and to everyone else.”