Preston North End have announced that the club have recalled Chris Maxwell from his loan with Hibernian, and cancelled the goalkeeper's contract by mutual consent.

Maxwell, who joined Preston from Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2016, went onto make 83 appearances in all competitions for the club, but had found himself down the pecking order at Deepdale in recent times.

The 29-year-old had spent the second half of last season on loan with Charlton Athletic, but failed to make a single appearance for the club as Lee Bowyer's side won promotion back to the Championship.

This summer then saw Maxwell secure a loan move to Hibernian, with the goalkeeper making 17 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership side.

That loan has however now been brought to an end, as has the goalkeeper's contract with Preston - which had been set to expire at the end of this season.

Consequentially, it appears as though the path has now been cleared for Maxwell to seal his move to League One side Blackpool, who are said to be close to completing a deal for the goalkeeper.

The Verdict

This looks to be the best move for those concerned.

With opportunities for Maxwell at Preston drying up significantly in recent months, it seems as though it best for the goalkeeper to move on elsewhere in search of the regular first-team football he wants.

That is something that now ought to be made easier for him, given the release from his contract means he is available on a free to Blackpool, which could also free-up some funds for them to spend elsewhere in this window.

It does appear as though this is a better outcome than remaining at Hibernian for Maxwell, given it ought to provide him with some more long-term certainty when it comes to his future, than his temporary move to Scotland had offered him.