Graham Burke is on fire.
Former Shamrock Rovers front man Graham Burke began his Preston North End career in fine fettle and he continued that red hot form into his championship debut at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Neil’s side took the lead after 40 minutes in their home grounds when Paul Gallagher rammed home an early penalty. Erik Pieters quickly restored parity for Stoke City but then Graham Burke arrived to town.
Preston were awarded a free deep into half-time injury time and after some head tennis around the Stoke City box, the ball sliced in the direction of Burke who’d ghosted his way towards the back post.
The man he’d ghosted away from, his Ireland international teammate James McClean who’d been caught ball-watching.
Burke steadied himself before meeting it on the volley and slotting it coolly past Jack Butland and into the top corner of the net.
Pick that one out! 😯
Here's how Graham Burke hammered @pnefc ahead just before the break!
Analysis and reaction live on Sky Sports Football now! https://t.co/iFPneSUETY pic.twitter.com/DAxi3gWEF1
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 18, 2018
Stoke City manager Gary Rowett might be having a few words with his new signing James McClean about his role in the goal, however.
McClean was tight on Burke initially.
But he fell asleep as Burke sniffed the opportunity and went onto bury it.
That’s some introduction to life in the championship for Burke but he’s been bowling along nicely ever since he made the journey across the water to join Seani Maguire at Preston.
He netted a couple of goals while looking sharp in pre-season and he also scored midweek in the Carabao Cop opener against Morecombe.
