Preston have completed the signing of Andre Green on a season-long loan deal from Aston Villa, the Championship side have announced.

Green made 21 league appearances for Aston Villa last season, helping them to promotion to the Premier League, and has now returned to the second tier with Alex Neil's side for the coming campaign.

Speaking to Preston's official website following confirmation of the deal, Green said: “I am happy I am here. I just spoke to the gaffer; everything is exciting and I can’t wait to get started and meet the lads.

“I had a good season in the Championship last year and I am excited to be here to bring that experience I have had into this team."

The Lancashire side are in need of a winger following the departure of Callum Robinson to newly-promoted Sheffield United, and Green cited the Republic of Ireland international's performances last season when assessing his own ambitions for the coming campaign, as he added: “The gaffer has said he wants to improve me as a player.

"As a winger you can see what happened to Callum [Robinson] and how much he improved over the course of last season.

"He wants me to come away from this season as a better player than when I have arrived and more goals is what I need to add to my game and he is confident I can do that.”

[ad_pod ]

Discussing his new signing, manager Alex Neil added: "Andre played the second half of season at Aston Villa in a team that was promoted.

"We are very hopeful that his directness, his pace and his creativity will add to our front line and that he will score and supply goals."

Green - who has just 12 months remaining on his contract at Villa Park - now becomes Preston's third signing of the summer transfer window, following the permanent signings of Patrick Bauer and the returning David Nugent in making the move to Deepdale.

The Verdict

I think this is a really good signing for Preston.

Following the departure of Callum Robinson for Sheffield United, Alex Neil's side have been left badly needing a fresh attacking threat from out wide, and in Green, they look to have found one.

The 21-year-old's rapid pace is enough to cause problems for any defence, and his experience in Villa's promotion-winning side of last season should stand him in good stead at Deepdale, where Preston will be looking to one better after showing the potential to secure a top-six spot for the last few years, only to miss out late on in the campaign.

This looks to be a good move for Green too. With just 12 months remaining on his contract at Aston Villa, this gives him the opportunity to play as much football as possible in order to impress enough to earn a new deal with his parent club, and helping Preston build on their performances of the last few years by taking them into the play-offs at the very least would certainly send a strong message to those at Villa Park.