Preston boss may turn to Whaley for strike option (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Preston boss may turn to Whaley for strike option

11:58am Thursday 31st July 2008

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Preston manager Alan Irvine may turn to winger Simon Whaley as he looks to add to his striking options for the coming season.

Irvine will be aware that North End were sucked into the relegation zone at the beginning of last season after scoring just six goals in their first nine games.

And despite a late rally in the final third of the season, striker Neil Mellor was the only Preston player to notch double figures.

With Karl Hawley and Chris Brown both suffering from injuries, Irvine used Whaley as the second striker against Carlisle on Saturday-with both Whaley and his strike partner Mellor on target in the 2-2 draw at Brunton Park.

And Irvine was pleased with the contribution of the former Bury winger who scored six goals last campaign.

He told the club's website: "Chris Brown rocked his ankle the other night against Everton, Karl Hawley has got a sore foot and Brett (Ormerod) played the other night so there was an opportunity to play Simon in a role I think he can play.

"He's a great striker of the ball, a very clean kicker of the ball and when he actually created the space I wasn't surprised to see it smash into the back of the net."

It was the second game in pre-season that Irvine has used Whaley as a second striker-though Irvine admitted he had got the idea to move Whaley further forward after watching the winger play the position for Bury.

He added: "I don't think that I am discovering anything that other people haven't already discovered.

"I saw him playing in that role for Bury, I went to watch him when I was at Everton and he played as a striker and I think he is able to do that."

Meanwhile Irvine was happy to reveal that the injuries sustained by several players during pre-season games were minor, with the players in question rested as a precautionary measure only.

"None of the injuries that we have got are anything serious. Richard Chaplow has got a little bit of a strain, it's a wee bit of a problem with his hip, Michael Hart has got a little thigh problem, they are small things.

"If we were playing in the league then they would all be in contention but you don't take any chances at this particular stage, we have done too much hard work to then end up being out for two or three weeks."

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