Leaving Manchester United as a 21-year-old takes real guts but for new Preston North End signing Josh Harrop, it could turn out to be the best decision he ever made.

The Lilywhites consistently have one of the lowest budgets in the Championship but season-after-season they come back and continue to battle time-after-time.

With new boss Alex Neil now at the helm, they've got as good a chance as ever to do well in the league and after their win over Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, optimism is high around Deepdale and rightly so.

And the summer signing of former Manchester United youngster Josh Harrop could represent a real coup for Alex Neil, as he attempts to rediscover the potential the youngster once showed as he scored a hat-trick in a United youth team against Spurs, in front of Jose Mourinho just a short while ago.

Mourinho invited him to train with the first-team squad but just a month later, Harrop had made the decision to leave to seek regular first-team football and that took him to Lancashire.

Whilst he didn't make the squad against Wednesday, he's a player that's expected to be involved aplenty as the season moves forward.

Big things were predicted for the 21-year-old as he was tipped to progress through the United squads like some of his colleagues but having turned down a contract offer from Jose Mourinho, he's definitely going to kick on at Deepdale.

A creative midfielder, Harrop is hard-working and knows how to pass a ball seriously well indeed.

Preston have a threadbare budget and will be looking to players like Harrop to make things happen as the season gets into full-flow and it won't be easy.

But Lilywhites fans should be optimistic about their opening day win and with players like Harrop still to come into the first-team squad, there should certainly be cause for optimism this season in the North West.

Preston fans - Hopeful about the signing of Harrop? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!