Opinion: Preston North End should look to strike deal for Aston Villa wing-back following Huddersfield Town decision | OneFootball

Despite being just four points off the Championship play-off spots, the mood amongst Preston North End supporters right now is one of real apathy and frustration.

The Lilywhites have been in and around the top six this season, but their home form is a real concern and a 4-0 demolition by Norwich City this past weekend has only exacerbated that.

Ryan Lowe’s side have won just three of their 14 matches at Deepdale in the league this season, but on the road it has been the complete opposite with seven victories in 13.

Plenty of fans had seen enough after half an hour against the Canaries when 3-0 down, with one of the issues on the day being Lowe’s selection at right-back.

The North End boss switched to a back four for the match, something which ended up backfiring spectacularly, with Diaby playing in the unfamiliar role of right-back, before then ending up as a wing-back when the 3-5-2 formation came back.

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Despite Lowe claiming that the Senegalese defender could do a job in that role, the evidence suggested otherwise, and it has only strengthened the need for PNE to sign a right wing-back before the transfer window closes.

Lowe has somewhat tempered expectations when it comes to signing a player in that position but hasn’t fully ruled it out – with neither Brad Potts or Alan Browne being the type of wide player to beat a full-back with pace and get a cross in though it would appear that North End desperately need an addition in that area.

And a player may have just landed in their laps in the form of Kaine Kesler Hayden, who has just had his loan at PNE’s Championship rivals Huddersfield Town cut short.

Despite showing his best form in recent weeks for the Terriers, Kesler Hayden’s season-long arrangement from Aston Villa was cut short by the Yorkshire side due to the addition of Matt Lowton and the return to fitness of Oliver Turton, with loan additions needed in the final third instead of having two wing-backs on loan.

The 20-year-old is highly-rated at Villa Park and has progressed up the EFL ranks with loan stints at Swindon, MK Dons and then Huddersfield, but he has found himself in a struggling team at the John Smith’s Stadium.

In his 15 matches for Town, Kesler Hayden scored and assisted a goal a-piece, his goal coming against PNE on Boxing Day after he arrived late to tap in a Jack Rudoni cross, and with his attacking play being the strongest part of his game, it’s no surprise to see he completed 16 of his 33 attempted dribbles whilst at the club (per Wyscout).

One thing he could definitely improve on is his crossing abilities, with just three out of his 11 attempts being successful – on a more positive note though his 43 interceptions in 15 matches is a decent record for someone who is more attack-focused.

With North End lacking real pace and attacking guile down the right, it would surely make sense to make a move for the youngster this week before anyone else can, with it very unlikely that he gets a chance at Villa this season.

Kesler Hayden looks to be the only real credible loan option out there with Championship experience, and it’s not like North End will have the funds to complete a permanent addition in that position, so they need to act fast.