NOTTINGHAM Forest winger Andy Gray has joined Preston North End on a month's loan as David Moyes continues his "try before you buy" policy on potential new players.

The 21-year-old played his first game just hours after arriving at Deepdale, playing an instrumental role in PNE's 5-0 demolition of Lincoln City on Tuesday.

The club said Gray was a player the management team had been watching for some time, but Moyes was forced to move in for the player when PNE's first squad injury count rose to four after Saturday's defeat at Reading.

Paul McKenna has suffered an ankle injury while Gary Parkinson has damaged his knee. Both were stretchered off during the Reading game.

David Eyres and Michael Appleton are still ruled out with their respective head and ankle injuries, leaving Moyes with a threadbare squad as the promotion race slips up a gear.

PNE's chairman Bryan Gray told Citizen Sport: "Where possible we will try to get a player on loan first.

"That way we can see how they play at Deepdale and how they settle in with the team, which is very important.

"Andy is a player we have been watching for quite a while and I am glad we have been able to get him to come to Deepdale."

Gray is the latest in a long line of Premiership starlets to come on loan to Deepdale.

Darren Byfield (Aston Villa) was first, followed by Craig Harrison (Middlesbrough). Steve Basham, from Southampton is currently proving a hit with the fans.

Basham scored two more goals during the Lincoln win, before which he netted the two goals against Wycombe which helped them win the game. He has also scored against Reading.

Gray added: "We want to see him complete his on-loan period before we make any decision. But he has certainly looked very good."

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