This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World's Preston North End fan pundit Tom Coulston-Herrmann has suggested the club would need to sign a replacement if Ben Pearson left the club in January. 

The 24-year-old has been a regular fixture in the first-team since joining from Manchester United in January 2016–making 129 appearances in that time.

The midfielder has been integral for Alex Neil's side this season–missing just one Championship game and helping them to climb to second in the league.

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Such have been the quality of his performances that teammate Daniel Johnson suggested he was the best deep-lying playmaker in the Championship.

It appears Johnson is not the only one impressed by Pearson's performances as, according to The Sun (3 November, page 61), Burnley are plotting to raid Preston for him in January.

The report suggests that Sean Dyche is looking to add some energy to his midfield and that the 24-year-old is on his radar.

Coulston-Herrmann suggested the club should reject any bids that came in for Pearson in January and indicated action would need to be taken if he did leave.

He explained: "If he left we’d probably need to get someone in of a similar mould.

"At the moment if Pearson is suspended or injured, Ryan Ledson fills in and does a good job on the whole and hopefully he can keep improving as he’s only 21.

"But I think with the money we’d receive I think it would be only right to also get a more experienced player as well."

Preston face Huddersfield Town at Deepdale on Saturday, knowing that a win could see them go top of the Championship should results elsewhere go their way.