by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

A RECENT Preston match report describes Jon Parkin as “darting away from his marker” en route to scoring his first pre-season goal.

Can this possibly be the same Jon Parkin keeping local pie shops in handsome profit during his 18 months with Stoke?

Well the big fella has certainly been playing with a spring in his step, by all accounts,
since leaving Stoke for Preston at the start of last season.

The Beast munched his way through 11 league goals – including four in successive matches – to make him top scorer at Deepdale and help fire Preston into the play-offs.

Sadly, a 1-1 draw in the home leg with Sheffield United was followed by a 1-0 defeat in the return at Bramall Lane three days later.

Alan Irvine’s stock was still sufficiently high to attract interest from managerless West Bromwich Albion over the summer before the Baggies eventually settled on Robert di Matteo.

Irvine, the softly-spoken Scotsman learning his trade as assistant to David Moyes, has certainly dangled enough carrots – or cream cakes – in front of Parkin to drag the best out of his larger-than-most striker.

Parkin is currently jostling for position in Preston’s forward line along with the likes of Neil Mellor, Karl Hawley, Stephen Elliott and Chris Brown as things stand at Deepdale.

Familiar faces remain elsewhere in the shape of midfielder Richard Chaplow, winger Chris Sedgwick and defender Callum Davidson, the club’s new skipper.

Davidson’s promotion follows this summer’s departure of popular midfielder Paul McKenna in a £750,000 move to rejoin former Preston boss Billy Davies at Nottingham Forest.

McKenna’s long-term contribution to the Deepdale cause will be appreciated by existing and former Preston players alike, Stoke duo Richard Cresswell and Danny Pugh among them.

McKenna’s fellow midfielder, Simon Whaley, is also in the process of departing from Preston following an agreement with Norwich for the former Manchester United trainee.

Like Stoke, Preston have kept their powder largely dry in the transfer market, while pre-season results are also as mixed after winning at Chorley and Tranmere, while drawing at Wrexham.

There was also an 11-0 stroll against part-timers Hallein 04 at the end of their recent visit to Austria in what amounted to little more than shooting practice.

GORDON Banks heads a huge cast list of former internationals in Preston this weekend.

Banks, together with the likes of Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Neville Southall, will be signing autographs at a football memorabilia fair.

The event runs from 10am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday at the National Football Museum, which is part of Preston’s Deepdale Stadium, scene of tomorrow’s friendly against Stoke.

Preston v Stoke City, Deepdale, 3pm.

Stoke City stories online today:
Breaking News: Whitehead signs
Whitehead's like a Volvo - unfashionable, but reliable"
Beattie targets 15-goal haul next season
Jon “Who scored all the goals?” Parkin set for Potters reunion
Whitehead deal imminent