Preston North End striker Jordan Hugill has signed a new contract with the Lilywhites until the summer of 2019.
The 24-year-old forward put pen to paper on his new terms, becoming the sixth current squad member to commit his long term future to the club in the last fortnight.
He joins skipper Tom Clarke, Paul Huntington, Daniel Johnson, current player of the year and now Paul Gallagher, who also agreed a new deal today, in extending his stay in PR1.
The North End No.25 was signed from Port Vale in the summer of 2014 and overcame a serious knee injury in his first season to become an integral part of the squad last season, scoring some memorable goals, including strikes that lead to wins in both Lancashire derbies at Bolton and Blackburn in early 2016.
He marked the eve of his new contract with a 25-yard stunner on Tuesday night against Cardiff City to add the icing to the cake in an impressive performance and first home win of the season, as Simon Grayson’s men swept aside the Bluebirds 3-0.
But speaking about his new deal, the Middlesbrough-born front man joked that his goal wasn’t the influence in getting a new contract.
“It is not just because I stuck one in the top corner that I have got this new contract, discussions have been going on for a few weeks and I feel it is a reward for the hard work I have put in.
“I still a lot of hard work to go and lot of improving to do, to make sure that I am starting every week, which is the aim next – as well as scoring more goals.”
Manager Simon Grayson was delighted that another hungry, young player had committed to his future to the club, adding: “Jordan has come to this football club and has kept on improving and improving and last night just typifies what he is all about.
”He works hard all of the time and he’s always looking to improve and we’re delighted to get him signed because there were a lot of people who enquired about him before the window shut but we knew he had a big part to play for us.
“We are delighted that we’ve secured someone like him because he is good to work with, good around the dressing room and hopefully he will keep improving.”