Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom has enjoyed his time working with Jayden Meghoma.
The Lilywhites swooped in for the Brentford left back during the January transfer window and completed a loan swoop, having identified the teenager as a target ahead of the market reopening. He has since made eight appearances for PNE – with seven of those starts.
Meghoma made a fine first impression with a star showing in the 2-1 win at Watford, against whom he assisted Preston’s opening goal. His greatest challenge came away to Coventry City – a game in which the youngster was replaced at half-time. On the whole, though, the manager’s verdict is certainly positive.
“Yeah, good,” said Heckingbottom last week. “We’ve been really pleased with him. He’s had a little dip in terms of the energy that comes naturally. He’s 18 and he was aware of it and felt it. We speak about it. But yeah, really pleased. I was pleased when he came on again the other night (versus Swansea).
“Everyone could see how he defends really well, 1v1. He’ll be so much better for the experience and my conversation with him yesterday was about that. I want him to play as many minutes as he can between now and the end of the season. That’s his challenge.
“But when he goes back, understanding what he’s taken from it – a different professionalism in terms of preparing for games week on week when you’re expected to play, rather than just a young lad in the squad. Things like managing his body – when he’s done his ankle, that type of thing. So yeah, lots of things that, for his first taste of it, 18-years-old, he’ll be much more better for.”
“It’s hard not to keep wanting that.”
The deal was a straight loan between Preston and Brentford in January. Meghoma – who came through at Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton – has been spoken about in glowing terms by Bees boss Thomas Frank. He has made four appearances for the first team as things stand. As far as signing Meghoma on loan again in the summer is concerned,
