Preston manager Alex Neil has played down the chances of a potential return to the club for striker David Nugent.

The 34-year-old is a free agent following his release by Derby County at the end of last season, and it was reported last week by Sky Sports' Transfer Centre (12/07, 15:43) that the striker was in talks over a return to Deepdale.

Those rumours only intensified after Nugent was seen watching Preston's friendly win over National League side AFC Fylde on Saturday. Following their 0-2 friendly victory away to another National League outfit, Chorley, on Tuesday, Neil was asked about Nugent's potential signing.

Covering the game in a live blog, Lancs Live reported on Neil's comments about Nugent in the 21:29 entry of their coverage, quoting the Scot as saying: We don’t talk about speculation, he was probably there (at Fylde) as a Preston fan as much as anything else."

Nugent's previous spell at Preston lasted for two and a half years between 2005 and 2007, with the striker scoring 37 goals in 107 appearances in all competitions for the Lancashire side, earning his one and only senior England cap during his time with the Lancashire side, when he played and scored in a Euro 2008 qualifying win over Andorra in March 2007.

The Verdict

This is an intriguing one here.

There certainly had seemed to be a strong suggestion that a return to Deepdale was imminent for Nugent, so you wonder whether Neil is trying to guard against expectations here, in case something does break down in the move.

Given Nugent did have a part to play in Derby's run to the play-off final last season, you feel this could still be a smart move on the pitch as well as off it, with the striker's popularity meaning this move would surely go down well with Preston fans should it happen.

It will be interesting to see just what happens here, although that connection between the two parties should certainly instil confidence in Preston to get the deal done, should they really want to.