Layton Stewart has been ‘disappointed’ with his lack of game time since leaving Premier League giants Liverpool for Championship outfit Preston North End in the summer transfer window.
That disappointment, however, may soon turn to delight.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe, ahead of Coventry City’s trip to Deepdale over the weekend, appears to have opened the door for the former Liverpool youngster to make his first start for the Lilywhites, Layton Stewart giving his hopes of more regular football a serious shot in the arm with his eye-catching performances on the training pitch.
Liverpool sold Layton Stewart to Preston
“Layton’s been the shining light over the past few weeks in training,” Lowe says, via the Preston North End Twitter feed. “We’ve seen a different side to him. He’s disappointed he’s not getting many minutes but there will definitely be opportunities for Layton.”
Stewart has played only eight minutes in Preston colours thus far. The Liverpool-born 21-year-old has been left on the bench for each of the last four Championship games too, omitted again even as his new employers stumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Hull City on Saturday afternoon.
Stewart’s absence from Lowe’s XI should come as no real surprise, however, especially if you recall what the Deepdale boss said about the striker shortly after his arrival in Lancashire.
‘Miles off where he needs to be’
“Layton is miles off where he needs to be for us,” Lowe told Lancs Live, patience required with a youngster enjoying his first ever season in the senior game.
“He played a few minutes in pre-season. Layton is a development player, who has got fantastic talent and ability. Over the course of pre-season, he found things difficult and that’s because if you look at him, he is not physically strong enough.
“He’s got to build himself up and that’s our plan with Layton, to build him up for the next three to four weeks and make sure he’s robust.”
Preston have now failed to win any of their last seven games, diminishing the early promise following an excellent start to the campaign.
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