Pearson returns to his Oldham roots

Photo: KEVIN McGuiness

BEN PEARSON . . . the Preston midfield man is back in the borough for tonight's friendly at SportsDirect.com Park

BEN Pearson is back on familiar ground tonight, as the Preston midfield man return to his roots.

The 21-year-old midfield man - a £650,000 signing from Manchester United at the start of the year - is from Chadderton and played his football at Boundary Park Juniors before being snapped up by the Old Trafford club.

The former Barnsley loan player is not the only link tonight.

Athletic's manager Stephen Robinson is a former Preston player, who signed for the club from Bournemouth for a fee of £375,000 in 2000.

MANAGED

Back then, North End were managed by David Moyes and preparing for life in the second tier after claiming the League One-equivalent title.

The switch North did not work out for Robinson, though, who only made nine starts in two years - primarily because of the form of those ahead of him in the midfield pecking order, including ex-Athletic star Sean Gregan and Mark Rankine.

Sixteen years on, the 41-year-old takes charge of his second pre-season game tonight (7pm kick-off) as Athletic's manager as he starts to imbue his squad with his ideas.

Opposite number Simon Grayson brings across a squad once again ahead of Athletic in terms of fitness.

The Lilywhites have played three friendlies already, the last of which was a behind-closed-doors contest against Fulham in Ireland, which they lost 5-0. The previous two outings saw 2-1 wins over Bamber Bridge and Chorley.

NEW FACES

After finishing 11th in the Championship, Grayson has so far brought in four new faces: Ben Pringle from Fulham, Blackburn's Tommy Spurr, Simon Makienok, on loan from Palermo, and goalkeeper Chris Maxwell from Fleetwood.

Three players have made loan deals permanent. Former United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has joined from West Brom, Callum Robinson is an arrival from Aston Villa and Eoin Doyle has moved from Cardiff for an undisclosed fee.