Thursday morning at Preston North End’s Euxton training ground and there is “an absolute buzz around the place”, according to the manager, Ryan Lowe. For good reason. A new signing is in the building, the Montenegro striker Milutin Osmajic, who Lowe describes as like hugging a brick wall, while players and staff are catching up after the international break. The Championship table, however, explains the main reason for Preston’s positivity.
Top of the pile after a five-game unbeaten start, Lowe’s team are relishing their role as surprise early pace-setters of a notoriously competitive division. Preston could make it five league wins in succession on Saturday against Plymouth, their manager’s previous club. No one is getting carried away, there is almost 90% of the season left to play after all, but having risen to the summit despite losing several key players in the summer, and being struck by injuries to several more, Lowe is adamant a proud and historic club should enjoy the view.
