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Andy Lonergan is tipping former Wanderers team-mate Jermaine Beckford to rediscover his goalscoring touch at Preston North End.
Beckford moved to Deepdale on loan last week in a switch that came as something of a shock, but is yet to make his debut after being an unused substitute in Saturday's League One win at Bristol City.
He could make his bow in tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern quarter-final at Oldham and Lonergan is confident the move will prove fruitful for Beckford, being reunited with his former Leeds boss Simon Grayson – who also managed Lonergan at Elland Road.
The keeper, who came through the ranks at Preston to make more than 200 appearances, said: "I spoke to him (Jermaine) before he went.
"The move was probably a surprise to everyone and maybe to Jermaine himself.
"He has gone to a good club. I went to watch them recently and it looked as though they were missing a Jermaine type of player."
Having trained and played with Beckford at Wanderers, Lonergan concedes a return of only 11 goals in 51 appearances is far from what was expected when the striker arrived from Leicester in the summer of 2013.
But he believes there is the mitigating factor of a playing style that does not suit Beckford's game as much as other forwards in the ranks like Craig Davies – who also had a loan spell with the Lilywhites last season.
Lonergan added: "Jermaine is the first to admit, he is not like Craig Davies and finds it hard to play up front by himself.
"Jermaine's goals are almost created for him. Craig can run around and make his own goals.
"But if Jermaine gets the service at any level I would back him to score."
Source
Beckford moved to Deepdale on loan last week in a switch that came as something of a shock, but is yet to make his debut after being an unused substitute in Saturday's League One win at Bristol City.
He could make his bow in tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern quarter-final at Oldham and Lonergan is confident the move will prove fruitful for Beckford, being reunited with his former Leeds boss Simon Grayson – who also managed Lonergan at Elland Road.
The keeper, who came through the ranks at Preston to make more than 200 appearances, said: "I spoke to him (Jermaine) before he went.
"The move was probably a surprise to everyone and maybe to Jermaine himself.
"He has gone to a good club. I went to watch them recently and it looked as though they were missing a Jermaine type of player."
Having trained and played with Beckford at Wanderers, Lonergan concedes a return of only 11 goals in 51 appearances is far from what was expected when the striker arrived from Leicester in the summer of 2013.
But he believes there is the mitigating factor of a playing style that does not suit Beckford's game as much as other forwards in the ranks like Craig Davies – who also had a loan spell with the Lilywhites last season.
Lonergan added: "Jermaine is the first to admit, he is not like Craig Davies and finds it hard to play up front by himself.
"Jermaine's goals are almost created for him. Craig can run around and make his own goals.
"But if Jermaine gets the service at any level I would back him to score."
Source