ALAN BROWNE HAS penned a new contract with Preston North End which will keep him at the English Championship club until the summer of 2020.
The 22-year-old midfielder has made over 100 appearances for Preston since joining the club from Cork City in January 2014.
The new three-year deal represents another step in the right direction for Browne, who won his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland in the friendly against Mexico earlier this summer.
“I think every year since I’ve been here we’ve agreed a new contract and it’s great for me to know that the club is putting that confidence in me. Hopefully I can return that to the club,” Browne told Preston’s official website.
“I was concentrated anyway, regardless of the contract. When the new manager came in I think everybody really wanted to up their game and that’s what I’ve looked to do so far this pre-season. Obviously it is good to get the contract signed and out of the way now and hopefully I can kick on even more.”
The development represents a seal of approval for Browne from new Preston manager Alex Neil, who only took over at Deepdale earlier this month following the departure of Simon Grayson for Sunderland.
“I have come a long way since I joined. There have been a lot of ups and downs and it’s just been great for me overall to progress like I have and now to continue to do so under the new manager is something exciting for me,” said Browne, who’s one of seven Irish players at Preston.
“The time under Simon Grayson was brilliant. I learnt a lot from him on and off the pitch and he was great with me, but the new manager has come in now and maybe he can work on different aspects of my game and progress me even further, and coach me that bit more. It’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
