Preston North End have announced the return of Danish goalkeeper Daniel Iversen on a season-long loan from Leicester City, becoming the club's fifth signing of the summer.

The 24-year-old spent the second half of last season at Deepdale after the Lilywhites number one Declan Rudd suffered a season-ending injury, featuring 23 times and impressing with nine clean sheets in that period.

With Rudd now back to full fitness ahead of the opening game against Hull City on Saturday, the Dane will add stiff competition for the starting spot. Iversen will wear the number 12 shirt this campaign.

The deal was reportedly struck earlier in the summer to bring Iversen back to Deepdale, but due to Leicester's main goalkeepers, Kasper Schmeichel and Danny Ward, being away at Euro 2020, it could only be confirmed after their return to the Foxes camp. Iversen has featured twice in pre-season for the Premier League outfit against Wycombe Wanderers and Burton Albion.

Preston boss Frankie McAvoy believes that the signing improves the club's goalkeeping situation in a very competitive state with four to choose from, in an interview with the club website;

We’re just delighted to get him back in time for the first game, and it puts our goalkeeping department in a very competitive situation.

"We knew there would be interest in him from other teams so for the club to do the deal, I cannot thank them enough, and it’s great that Daniel will get the opportunity to be here on Saturday."

Iversen also expressed his excitement about being back at Deepdale with the return of supporters;

"I’m really excited to get it done now, it’s been a wait for a couple of weeks now, but I’m really excited to be back."

"I cannot wait to see the fans again and say thank you for all the support they gave us last season and hopefully they will do that this season also."

The Verdict

This signing makes a lot of sense due to an impressive spell last season at the club for the Dane.

His understanding with his back four has already developed strongly, and was perhaps reasoning in why loanees such as Liam Lindsay and Sepp Van den Berg were also brought back to Deepdale this season.

Even though Rudd has been North End's number one for a lengthy period of time, Iversen kept more clean sheets than him in his previous half a season, so McAvoy has a potential selection headache between two highly regarded shot-stoppers for Saturday's game against Hull.