Preston’s Browne aims to step up to another level
PRESTON’S Alan Browne believes he still has room to improve after dominating his club’s end-of-season awards.
The 23-year-old Corkman has grown into an important player for the Championship club who finished just one place outside the playoff places after an impressive year with a tight budget.
Browne was a star performer and was voted player of the season by both the fans and his own team-mates.
He also scooped the goal of the season gong to complete a hat-trick and admitted his pride at the achievement – especially the recognition from within the dressingroom.
They are the people that see you every day,” he said. “You can have an off day in a match and the fans might not think as highly of you but the boys see what you do in training and how hard you’re working. The award means a lot to me, but the supporters’ one means a hell of a lot too.”
Browne’s colleagues have showered praise on his performances with Sean Maguire vocal about his Irish colleague’s quality when his own exploits commanded attention.
The Preston North End fans haven’t always been convinced about the 2014 arrival from Cork City, yet he feels he’s beginning to show them why so many people in the game have faith in his ability.
“The boys have been aware of what I can do but it’s about taking the next step up and showing up when the pressure’s on and when everyone’s rooting for you,” he said.
“That’s when you need to turn up. I feel I can improve even more on that and really kick on next season.”
Browne was selected by Martin O’Neill for the March friendly in Turkey and he should feature in the end-of-season gathering which consists of Scott Brown’s testimonial and proper friendlies with France and the USA.
O’Neill names his squad for those games this Thursday.
This is a week of mixed emotions for Irish players in England with managers making decisions about handing out contracts for next term.
John O’Sullivan is on the lookout for a new club after being released by Carlisle with the ex-Blackburn youth unemployed just 48 hours after featuring for the League Two club in their final match of the season.
Scores of players will be let go in the coming days with the fickle nature of the business summed up by events at Morecambe.
Their 35-year-old captain Michael Rose helped the club stay in the Football League by taking a point from Coventry on Saturday. He is out of a job already.