# 2023–24 Preston North End F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 144th season in the history of Preston North End and their ninth consecutive season in the Championship. The club participated in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.

## Squad

    As of 10 February 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Freddie Woodman | GK | Croydon | (1997-03-04) 4 March 1997 (age 27) | Newcastle United | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | David Cornell | GK | Waunarlwydd | (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 (age 33) | Peterborough United | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Greg Cunningham | LB | Galway | (1991-01-31) 31 January 1991 (age 33) | Cardiff City | 28 January 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 5 | Patrick Bauer | CB | Backnang | (1992-10-28) 28 October 1992 (age 32) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2019 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 6 | Liam Lindsay | CB | Glasgow | (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 29) | Stoke City | 1 July 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 14 | Jordan Storey | CB | Yeovil | (1997-09-02) 2 September 1997 (age 27) | Exeter City | 1 July 2018 | £850,000 | 30 June 2025 |
| 16 | Andrew Hughes | LB | Cardiff | (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 32) | Peterborough United | 1 July 2018 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 26 | Jack Whatmough | CB | Gosport | (1996-08-19) 19 August 1996 (age 28) | Wigan Athletic | 2 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2026 |
| 33 | Kian Best | LWB | | (2005-08-27) 27 August 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 36 | Josh Seary | RB | Liverpool | (2004-09-10) 10 September 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Benjamin Whiteman | CM | Rochdale | (1996-06-17) 17 June 1996 (age 28) | Doncaster Rovers | 14 January 2021 | £1,670,000 | 30 June 2026 |
| 8 | Alan Browne | CM | Cork | (1995-04-15) 15 April 1995 (age 29) | Cork City | 1 January 2014 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 10 | Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | AM | Hvidovre | (1999-07-29) 29 July 1999 (age 25) | Odense | 11 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2027 |
| 11 | Robbie Brady | LM | Dublin | (1992-01-14) 14 January 1992 (age 32) | Bournemouth | 4 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 13 | Ali McCann | CM | Edinburgh | (1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 25) | St Johnstone | 31 August 2021 | £1,400,000 | 30 June 2027 |
| 18 | Ryan Ledson | CM | Liverpool | (1997-08-19) 19 August 1997 (age 27) | Oxford United | 1 July 2018 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 20 | Ben Woodburn | AM | Nottingham | (1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 (age 25) | Liverpool | 4 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 25 | Duane Holmes | AM | Columbus | (1994-11-06) 6 November 1994 (age 30) | Huddersfield Town | 12 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 30 | Kian Taylor | CM | | (2005-02-15) 15 February 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 35 | Noah Mawene | CM | Lytham St Annes | (2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| 37 | Kaedyn Kamara | CM | Liverpool | (2005-11-29) 29 November 2005 (age 19) | Burnley | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 44 | Brad Potts | RM | Hexham | (1994-07-03) 3 July 1994 (age 30) | Barnsley | 3 January 2019 | £1,600,000 | 30 June 2026 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Will Keane | CF | Stockport | (1993-01-11) 11 January 1993 (age 31) | Wigan Athletic | 14 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 9 | Ched Evans | CF | Rhyl | (1988-12-28) 28 December 1988 (age 35) | Fleetwood Town | 6 February 2021 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 17 | Layton Stewart | CF | Liverpool | (2002-09-03) 3 September 2002 (age 22) | Liverpool | 22 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| 19 | Emil Riis Jakobsen | CF | Hobro | (1998-06-24) 24 June 1998 (age 26) | Randers | 1 October 2020 | £1,500,000 | 30 June 2025 |
| 23 | Liam Millar | LW | Toronto | (1999-09-27) 27 September 1999 (age 25) | Basel | 1 September 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 24 | Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile | CF | Vinhedo | (2006-10-04) 4 October 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 28 | Milutin Osmajić | CF | Podgorica | (1999-07-25) 25 July 1999 (age 25) | Cádiz | 1 September 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2027 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 29 | Finlay Cross-Adair | CF | | (2005-01-11) 11 January 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Lewis Leigh | CM | Preston | (2003-12-05) 5 December 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 34 | Kitt Nelson | AM | | (2005-01-12) 12 January 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 38 | James Pradic | GK | | (2005-07-02) 2 July 2005 (age 19) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2026 |

## Statistics

    As of 24 September 2023
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Preston North End.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Freddie Woodman | 8 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | IRL | Greg Cunningham | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Ben Whiteman | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | GER | Patrick Bauer | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | SCO | Liam Lindsay | 8 | 2 | 8+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | IRL | Will Keane | 6 | 4 | 5+0 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | IRL | Alan Browne | 9 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | DEN | Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | 9 | 1 | 5+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IRL | Robbie Brady | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | NIR | Ali McCann | 8 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Jordan Storey | 9 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | WAL | Andrew Hughes | 9 | 1 | 7+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ENG | Layton Stewart | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Ryan Ledson | 9 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | WAL | Ben Woodburn | 6 | 1 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 21 | GK | WAL | David Cornell | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | CAN | Liam Millar* | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | USA | Duane Holmes | 9 | 3 | 5+3 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Jack Whatmough | 7 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | MNE | Milutin Osmajić | 3 | 1 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Kian Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Lewis Leigh | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Kian Best | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Noah Mawene | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | IRL | Josh Seary | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 44 | MF | ENG | Brad Potts | 8 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of 15 February 2024
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | 7 | | CF | Will Keane | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | 25 | | RM | Duane Holmes | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | 6 | | CB | Liam Lindsay | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | 10 | | AM | Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | 16 | | LB | Andrew Hughes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 20 | | AM | Ben Woodburn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 23 | | LW | Liam Millar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | 28 | | CF | Milutin Osmajić | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 2 | 15 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 24 September 2023
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 8 | | CM | Alan Browne | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 18 | | CM | Ryan Ledson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 25 | | RM | Duane Holmes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 13 | | CM | Ali McCann | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 44 | | CM | Brad Potts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 6 | | LB | Liam Lindsay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 7 | | CF | Will Keane | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 10 | | AM | Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 11 | | LM | Robbie Brady | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 26 | | CB | Jack Whatmough | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 28 | | CF | Milutin Osmajić | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 33 | | LB | Kian Best | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 11 July 2023 | AM | Mads Frøkjær-Jensen | Odense | Undisclosed |
| 12 July 2023 | AM | Duane Holmes | Huddersfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 14 July 2023 | CF | Will Keane | Wigan Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 22 July 2023 | CF | Layton Stewart | Liverpool | Undisclosed |
| 2 August 2023 | CB | Jack Whatmough | Wigan Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Milutin Osmajić | Cádiz | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | AM | Aaron Bennett | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Lewis Coulton | FC United of Manchester | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | AM | Daniel Johnson | Stoke City | Rejected Contract |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Harry Nevin | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Dana De Oliveira Amaral | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Matthew Olosunde | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Josh Onomah | Free agent | Withdrew Offer |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Rio Pemberton | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Finlay Wallbank | Workington | Released |
| 29 July 2023 | LB | Jacob Slater | Brighton & Hove Albion | Undisclosed |
| 2 August 2023 | CB | Bambo Diaby | Sheffield Wednesday | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Mikey O'Neill | Burnley | Undisclosed |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Fee | Ref |
| 1 July 2023 | RB | Calvin Ramsay | Liverpool | 15 January 2024 | |
| 1 September 2023 | LW | Liam Millar | Basel | End of Season | |
* ↑ On 15 January, Ramsay was recalled back to Liverpool early.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 29 July 2023 | GK | James Pradic | Bamber Bridge | End of Season |
| 3 August 2023 | CF | Finlay Cross-Adair | Annan Athletic | 31 January 2024 |
| 5 September 2023 | CF | Mikey O'Neill | Southport | 6 January 2024 |
| 6 September 2023 | CM | Lewis Leigh | Bromley | 6 January 2024 |
| 30 September 2023 | AM | Kitt Nelson | Workington | End of Season |
| 8 January 2024 | CM | Lewis Leigh | Crewe Alexandra | End of Season |
| 9 February 2024 | LB | Kacper Pasiek | Warrington Town | End of Season |
* ↑ On 5 January, Pradic's loan at Bamber Bridge was extended until the end of the season.
* ↑ On 11 December, Nelson's loan at Workington was extended until the end of the season.
* ↑ On 13 March, Pasiek's loan at Warrington was extended until the end of season.

## Pre-season and friendlies

In April, PNE confirmed they would once again spend a week in Campoamor, Spain between 2–8 July 2023. The club then announced three pre-season friendlies on 30 May, against Bamber Bridge, Fleetwood Town and Stockport County. A further two, against Bury and Barrow were later added. During the trip to Spain, it was confirmed that the club would meet Bruno's Magpies. Two home friendlies against Ipswich Town and Aberdeen was next to added.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Championship | 5 August 2023 | 4 May 2024 | Matchday 1 | 10th | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 56 | 67 | −11 | 039.13 |
| FA Cup | 6 January 2024 | 6 January 2024 | Third round | Third round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 8 August 2023 | 8 August 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 48 | 18 | 10 | 20 | 58 | 73 | −15 | 037.50 |
Source: Soccerway

### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Hull City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 68 | 60 | +8 | 70 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 71 | 62 | +9 | 69 |
| 9 | Coventry City | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 70 | 59 | +11 | 64 |
| 10 | Preston North End | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 56 | 67 | −11 | 63 |
| 11 | Bristol City | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 53 | 51 | +2 | 62 |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 46 | 19 | 5 | 22 | 53 | 70 | −17 | 62 |
| 13 | Millwall | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 45 | 55 | −10 | 59 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 36$^1$ | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | L | L | L | D | D | L | W | W | L | L | L | D | W | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | L | W | W | L | D | W | L | L | L | L | L |
| Position | 13 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
* $^1$ Matchday 36 (vs Southampton) was postponed due to a fire near to the stadium.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

Preston entered into the FA Cup in the third round, and were drawn away to Chelsea.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

PNE were drawn at home to Salford City in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures