Preston North End face big Robbie Brady decision - Burnley evidence could sway Heckingbottom | OneFootball

The Irishman rolled back the years with a sublime strike against his former side, and will be hoping to earn a new contract at Deepdale this summer

Preston North End face a period of big decisions over the next few months, with a whole host of players set to be out of contract at Deepdale this summer.

The Lancashire side could be waving goodbye to as many as eleven first-team players on July 1 if nothing changes, with the likes of Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman, Duane Holmes and Ryan Ledson all currently in the final few months of their deals at Deepdale right now.

As well as that, Republic of Ireland international Robbie Brady is also in limbo surrounding his future as it stands, with the 33-year-old also set to become a free agent in the off-season after three years at Deepdale.

While he may not always have been the first name on the team sheet, and injuries have become more prevalent this season, the Irishman still offers a fine outlet for his side with the bags of quality in his left foot, with recent evidence proving that on the biggest stage.

Preston North End facing Robbie Brady dilemma ahead of end of 2024-25 season

Having had a career where he graced the Premier League for the best part of seven seasons as well as thrive on the international stage, there is no doubting that Brady can produce the goods when his body allows him to do so.

The issue of availability is one that has affected him over the course of his time with North End though, with just 50 starts since making the move to the club in the summer of 2022 telling its own story.

At time of writing, the ex-Hull City star has started just nine Championship games this season, with a further ten substitute appearances, with an ankle injury sustained at Plymouth Argyle back in October seeing him have to spend some time on the sidelines to regain full fitness.

While he is yet to score a goal in the Championship this season, his ability to whip a ball into the penalty area is still as pure as it has always been, while his delivery from set-pieces also helps to create danger for Paul Heckingbottom’s side in the opposition’s penalty area.

What you lose in quantity you make up for in quality with Brady, and it is whether the powers that be at Deepdale decide another year is worth it for a player who may only feature in half the games during a season.

Burnley FA Cup evidence could help Paul Heckingbottom's thinking with Robbie Brady decision

While he hasn’t scored in league football all season, Brady saved his first strike of the campaign for the Lancashire derby with Burnely on Saturday, as he opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick in their FA Cup fifth round clash.

That trademark accuracy and technique saw Vaclav Hladky clutching at thin air as his effort whipped over the wall and into the top right corner at the weekend, sending Deepdale into delirium as they got one over on their local rivals and booked a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 59 years.

As well as providing a threat going forward from his wing-back position, Brady also contributed to a solid defensive performance against his former side, and won all of his aerial duels to keep the Clarets at bay for the 70 minutes he was on the field.

With the injury issues from the start of the campaign firmly in the rear-view mirror right now, Brady has the perfect opportunity to prove himself to Heckingbottom and the decision makers at the football club that he is well worth another year, with his sprinkling of top-flight quality too good to give up and hand to another side.

Whether he stays or goes remains unclear, but wherever he ends up next season Brady has proven he still has the talent in his boots to perform in the second tier, and can still provide moments of quality to win games from nowhere.