Preston youngster Adam O'Reilly tipped to have a bright future

O’Reilly was on loan with Stalybridge Celtic at the time football was suspended two months ago.

The Irish teenager, who has played once in North End’s first-team, certainly caught the eye of Stalybridge boss Simon Haworth.

Former Wigan and Cardiff striker Haworth, liked O’Reilly’s competitiveness in non-league – something not all loan players from full-time clubs find easy to adapt to.

“Adam was first-class when he was with us,” Haworth told the Lancashire Post.

“We liked him a lot, he settled into the group and worked hard.

“He would come in for training with us on a Thursday night and was arguably our best player in every game he played.

“The way Adam played just suited non-league, he was physical and had some bite.

“I have been at Stalybridge for two seasons and before that I was Clitheroe manager for two years.

“Adam is the best loan player I’ve had in those four seasons.

“He had that competitive edge which you do need to have in non-league.

“I remember an opposition player absolutely nailing him with a challenge in a game.

“Adam got up and went straight after him!”

Haworth also took Ethan Walker on loan from PNE and liked what he saw from him, although injury hindered the winger’s time at Stalybridge.

O’Reilly, who turns 19 on Monday, and Walker both made their league debuts against Aston Villa at Deepdale in December 2018.

Haworth said: “Ethan’s a great lad and he was just a bit unfortunate with injury when he came to us.

“I’d watched him play in an FA Youth Cup game when he scored both goals and is clearly a talented boy.

“He got an injury soon after coming to us but got back to playing just before the season was stopped.

“Ethan is the year below Adam and has still got bits to learn about the game.

“Both him and Adam are good lads and I know Alex Neil came to watch one of the games Adam played here.

“They both did their club and themselves proud and if there was a chance to take them on loan again, I would certainly do that.”

O’Reilly, who PNE signed from Ringmahon Rangers in Cork, signed his first pro deal a month after coming on as a substitute against Villa.

He’s been on the bench a few times since but has not got on to the pitch.

Walker, 17, signed pro this season part-way through his second year as a scholar.