Former Chelsea player Izzy Brown has left Preston North End after less than a season and without having played a single minute for the club.
Brown, aged 25, joined the Championship side last June after penning a one-year contract. But his stay has been ended abruptly after Lilywhites' boss Ryan Lowe said he and another player did not meet the required standards. It caps a wretched year for Brown, who ruptured his Achilles not long after arriving at Deepdale.
He suffered the freak injury in training and was side-lined ever since. It means he has left the club without ever making an appearance or featuring in a matchday squad. Lowe, speaking to the media on Thursday morning, confirmed reports that Brown and Cardiff loanee Josh Murphy had both left the club.
Lowe said: "It was last week (when they left). I don't want to say too much on them because they have got to go and find a club and a future elsewhere. What I will say, is that the two of them had great opportunities to showcase what they could do for me and Preston North End.
"My standards are very high and unfortunately both of them didn't meet the standards, and that's all I've got to say about it. I wish Josh and Izzy all the best, it's never personal, it's just where I want try and get the football club."
Shortly after joining North End Brown made a bold statement, claiming he felt he could still earn a senior England call-up. That was despite the fact he had played just once for previous parent club Chelsea in eight years, and off the back of a hugely uninspiring loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday who were relegated from the Championship last season.
Brown told Sky Sports last July: "Some things happen in your career like injuries and setbacks but it's part of football. You never know what can happen in the future. I still believe that one day in the future I can still probably play for England. I have got to keep believing in myself, work hard and hopefully this season sets me up to carry on pushing forward. I feel like Preston is an amazing club and I can't wait to play at Deepdale with all the fans."
Brown started his career at West Bromwich Albion, becoming the second-youngest player in Premier League history at the age of 16 years and 117 days to make his debut in the competition back in May 2013. He moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013 and was hailed as a top prospect but he was continually farmed out on loan.
In total he was shipped out on loan seven times, and made just one appearance at Chelsea before his release last summer.
