Ryan Lowe has explained the decision by Preston North End to not renew the contract of Connor Wickham. 

The striker has now left the club upon the expiration of his contract.

Manager Lowe has spoken about the decision to let the 28-year old leave the club. 

“I think he would be a threat for anyone, especially in the Championship, but unfortunately he’s had a lot of fitness issues through his career. His attitude and application has been spot on but he understands the situation,” said Lowe, via Lancashire Live

"We couldn’t get him fully fit to play really and I have been honest with him and I wish nothing but good luck to him. He has left fit at the moment so I hope he finds a club soon and they can get him fully fit and playing."

 

 

Wickham joined the club in September on a short-term deal but only eventually made two appearances during his stint with the club. 

One was an appearance from the bench against West Brom, while the other was a starting position in the Carabao Cup against Cheltenham Town. 

Wickham picked up a hamstring injury during that cup clash which later required surgery. 

Wickham has suffered from injury problems that have plagued his career in recent years. It hasn’t worked out with Preston and thus the club have allowed him to leave now that his contract has expired. 

Wickham leaves a Preston side 14th in the Championship table. Lowe’s side have won back to back league games to distance themselves from the relegation tussle at the bottom of the table. They now lead 22nd place Peterborough by 12 points.

Those victories came against Stoke City and Barnsley.

Preston next face Birmingham City at home on January 15. 

The Verdict

It’s been an unfortunate few years for Wickham, who now has to convince another club that his injury record isn’t a concern. 

That he was only able to make two appearances for Preston is a disaster for the former Sunderland striker. 

At only 28-years old, it is far too soon for him to be thinking about calling it a day on his career, but it is likely he will need to take a step down in standard if he wants to find another club this January.