With every passing week, there seems to be a growing sense around Preston North End that this really could be the year that Alex Neil's side finally make a sustained season-long challenge for promotion.

Going into the November international break, Preston are second in the Championship table only behind West Brom, and are yet to taste defeat on home soil in the league this season, further backing up that idea that this really could be the season make that push for a place in the Premier League.

One crucial period that is still to come for Preston is the January transfer window, when North End will surely have to ward off interest in a number of their key players following their individual eye-catching performances so far this season.

But something that may be just as important as preventing those key players from leaving the club, is ensuring they bring in the right new faces to potentially help get them over the line in the race for a place in the Premier League.

Here, we've taken a look at five players who could make a big difference for Preston if they were to bring them to the club in the January transfer window.

One thing that Preston have lacked so far this season is goals from an out and out forward option, something that has been helped by a season-ending injury suffered by Louis Moult early in the campaign.

That has left Jayden Stockley and David Nugent as their only real options in that area of the park, meaning it is one they could do to add to in January.

With his contract at The Valley set to expire at the end of this season, Taylor could be an affordable option at this level, with his start to the campaign showing he can get goals at this level, while the presence of one of his former Charlton teammates - Patrick Bauer - in North End's side could help them persuade him to make the move to Deepdale.

The central defensive partnership of Bauer and Ben Davies has looked fairly solid for Preston so far this season, but adding an extra option in that area may not be the worst idea for North End.

Preston's backline certainly looked less reliable than normal in the absence of Davies from the 3-2 win over Blackburn through injury, and with a number of Premier League clubs linked with a move for the 24-year-old, they could yet need to consider a longer-term replacement for him.

In Cooper, they would be getting someone who has plenty of experience in shoring up a Championship defence as he has done with Millwall, and who could also be available cheaply with his contract up at the end of the season.

In what was an otherwise fairly disappointing performance from Huddersfield in a 3-1 defeat at Deepdale just before the November international break, one moment that certainly caught the eye for the Terriers' was the 30-yard run and finish from holding midfield of Juninho Bacuna.

Goals from that deep midfield role are something that have been a rare sight from open play for Preston this season, meaning that contribution that Bacuna has made for Huddersfield - scoring four since the start of October, could be a useful addition for North End.

Indeed, with three of those strikes coming from the bench, you wonder whether he could even be used as an impact substitute for Alex Neil's side, which could be a decent asset when they need to get themselves out of tricky situations and pick up crucial points in games later on in the season.

One thing that would be a boost for Preston - or indeed any other side - were they to sign O'Nien, is his versatility.

Having impressed at both right-back and attacking midfield during his time at Sunderland, O'Nien is someone who could step in a variety of positions as issues such as injury and suspension start to take their toll at the back end of the season.

With his contract at the Stadium of Light set to expire next summer, O'Nien may well be affordable for a side such as Preston, if the Black Cats' form under new manager Phil Parkinson fails to improve, and the 25-year-old elects to look for another route into the Championship.

One man who has already been linked with a possible move to Deepdale in January is Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, with reports from The Sheffield Star recently claiming that Preston have joined Blackburn, Derby and Rangers in taking an interest in the 24-year-old.

With current North End number one Declan Rudd looking somewhat suspect with regards to his command of his area, despite his excellent shot-stopping ability, you can understand why that is a position that Preston could be keen to add another option in come January.

Having spent much of his time at Wednesday playing second fiddle to Keiren Westwood, you imagine Dawson could be open to a move elsewhere, in order to finally get the chance to establish himself as a Championship number one.