‘Ryan is the sort of player’ – Watford man’s transfer deadline day move to Preston North End explained.
PNE signed Ryan Porteous on transfer deadline day. Preston North End made their third signing of the summer window on deadline day, bringing Ryan Porteous from Watford. The Scotland international will play the remainder of the season on loan at Deepdale. Following the injury of first-choice defender Jordan Storey, PNE moved fast to bring Porteous in. The 25-year-old has previously worked with manager Paul Heckingbottom at Hibernian. Porteous informed the club website that he is looking forward to the transfer. I believe that at my current age, I require a constant schedule of games and a healthy environment. I feel that Preston can provide that right now. Hopefully I can add a good bit to the changing room and on the pitch as well.
“It’s not like I’ve come here because I’ve not been playing games regularly; certain things happen in football and that’s just the way it is. I come here having played a lot of games this season already and I’m ready to go.
“I’m delighted. It’s all come about quite fast. When the manager spoke to me, having worked with him before at Hibs, I was pretty sure that I was going to come here. I’m really looking forward to the consistent games and really knuckling down here and trying to bring success to the football club.”
Are you surprised Porteous has been loaned out?
AF: “I am, then I am not.” He has been a regular since signing two years ago, and after a difficult start to the season, he has regained some form. However, Watford recruited James Abankwah on loan from Udinese earlier in January, and he has impressed. ‘Mattie Pollock is first choice in the heart of defence, therefore Porteous was already competing with Fracisco Sierralta and Angelo Ogbonna for a spot – followed by Abankwah. Furthermore, Tom Cleverley began the season with three at the back but has since switched to four, leaving only two positions open.
How would you assess his two years at Watford so far?
AF: “He was highly popular when he arrived, scored on his debut at Reading, and supporters embraced his devoted style. Last season, he was a regular. Then, in the summer, he was sent off for Scotland against Germany in the first game of the Euros.
‘That definitely affected him – he said so himself – and this season he suffered a dip in form and lost his place. He knuckled down and came back but, as I outlined above, he’s got others blocking his path.’
What kind of defender will PNE get? AF: ‘Wholehearted’. A player who gives his all and fights on regardless. Ryan is the type of player you want beside you in the trenches. For a defender, he scored quite a few goals.
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