16-year-old Cork midfielder Adam O’Reilly on verge of Championship debut

Born in May 2001. He was 13 months old when Robbie Keane scored that last-ditch equaliser against Germany at the World Cup.

Preston North End have done wonders for giving Irish players a chance over in the English Championship. P.N.E have five players, currently, in their senior squad and another three out on loan. Simon Grayson may have moved on to Sunderland [then lost that job] but Alex Neil has kept up the habit of placing the team's faith in top Irish talents. With Greg Cunningham suspended and Seani Maguire still recovering from injury, Neil had three Irish players to call on for his side's clash with high-flying Wolves. Alan Browne started while Daryl Horgan and 16-year-old Cork midfielder Adam O'Reilly were on the bench. O'Reilly is a former Ringmahon Rangers player, like Browne, and he has represented Ireland at underage levels, all the way up to U18. He was signed by Preston on a four-year deal in November 2016. Preston hit the front through Browne's headed goal but Wolves equalised 10 minutes later and the game ended 1-1. Browne, who has been in a rich vein of form, was named man-of-the-match for the fourth consecutive game. He found O'Reilly after the game to pose for a snap that their former club, in Cork, happily shared: https://twitter.com/RingmahonRanger/status/964908434767405057 A red card for Preston's John Welsh, with 30 minutes to play, saw Preston forced to absorb some Wolves pressure. It also meant Neil was more conservative in his choice of substitutes to bring on. However, following the game, the Preston boss spoke encouragingly about O'Reilly and his Championship debut does not seem far off.

"Our matchday squad today had O’Reilly, Connor Simpson and Jack Baxter in it and Adam made the bench. They are all under 18 and they are only kids but I wouldn’t have had a problem with bringing Adam on today if I felt the game needed it."

Just the sort of comments the young midfielder needs to hear ahead of another big week. Next up for Preston are Aston Villa [away] and Ipswich [home], and O'Reilly will be hoping to get a run out in either of those fixtures.