Tyrhys Dolan will continue his record of featuring in every matchday squad this season upon his return to Preston North End tomorrow night.

And Tony Mowbray says the flying teen deserves everything that has come his way having impressed since the first day he arrived in pre-season.

Rovers snapped up Dolan after he was let go by North End in the summer, and he’s enjoyed a fine start to life at Ewood, with two goals and 12 appearances already to his name.

He’s one of just four players to feature in every matchday squad so far, despite the intention for him to start in the Under-23s, with Mowbray saying the 18-year-old is deserving of the opportunities he’s had.

“He’s done it himself. As I’ve said a few times now we didn’t bring him in thinking we’d signed a first-team player, he came in as a young boy that had some potential and promise,” Mowbray explained.

“The decision Preston made, the kid has come in and done it for himself.

“It’s not as though I’ve been trying to give him a leg-up, he’s done it on the grass with his fantastic drive and energy and desire to do well.”

 

 

The arrival of Harvey Elliott, and return to fitness of Sam Gallagher, have seen Dolan’s game-time reduce in recent weeks, but he has maintained his place in the squad, and a big part of Mowbray’s plans.

“He has had a few personal issues over recent weeks that have set him back a little bit, knocked him a little bit,” Mowbray said, referring to the death of close friend, and ex-Man City youngster, Jeremy Wisten.

“He’s an amazing kid, I know he’s dropped away from the immediate starting XI but I’ve said to him that’s nothing to concern himself about.

“We’ve taken a fantastic talent from Liverpool, Gallagher has got himself fit now and is impacting the team so he’s doing amazingly well and keep going, keep working as he does and I’m sure he’s got a big future for the club.”

Rovers are yet to beat North End in their last six meetings, despite being 2-0 up at half-time in this fixture last season.

A second half comeback saw the hosts take the points 3-2, with the introduction of Jayden Stockley proving their undoing.

Preston ended their wait for a home win with victory against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, and despite the absence of fans, Mowbray is anticipating a hard-fought encounter.

“We started pretty well, got ourselves 2-0 up and lost 3-2. We didn’t deal with their physicality, went more direct and we didn’t do the basics well enough,” he said of last season’s defeat.

“They have always been pretty tight, though we did lose 4-1 there, but it’s never been easy to go there.

“How it is with no crowds we’ll wait and see. They’ll be pleased to have got their first win at home, I’m not sure the impact of no crowds, but we’d all prefer to have our home crowd in, it does give you those extra percentages and that bit more drive to the team and keeps the focus.

“I see it as the next game and we’ll go and do what we do.

“We weren’t at fluent as we have been, a bit stodgy, and the first game after the international break it can be understandable after a few weeks off.

“We’ll go to Preston and try and impose ourselves on the game and see how we get on.”