“It has been a crazy year really, it’s been a bit mad,” Horgan said today. “But while you’re in it, you just keep wanting more and more.
“Maybe at the end of it I’ll look back and say ‘that was brilliant’, but I want to get the head down and keep working so I can play as much football as I possibly can.”
Having joined Preston back in December, the winger went on to make 21 league appearances in the second half of last season — scoring two goals and providing three assists.
However, with manager Simon Grayson departing for Sunderland over the summer, 25-year-old Horgan has found opportunities under his replacement Alex Neill hard to come by.
It’s very frustrating,” he admits. “Everyone wants to play every minute they possibly can. The new manager has come in with different ideas and different ways of doing things.
“We’ve started really well and shot up the table so we’re in the mix. The team has done brilliantly. I’d like to make more of an impact with more appearances but you can’t really fault anything that the team has done at the minute. I have to just keep the head down, keep working away and the opportunity will come.”
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After an excellent first season, his opportunities have been limited at Preston this term. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
The Lilywhites currently sit sixth in the Championship and of their 11 league matches, Horgan has been restricted to four appearances as a second-half substitute. He did set up the winner against Hull City recently with a direct run and cross for Callum Robinson, however.
“Coming off the bench it’s going to be difficult, but if you can make some sort of impact — set up a goal, score, things like that — all the better. That’s what the manager is trying to do when he makes substitutions — win the game. Thankfully it paid off that day.”
Fellow League of Ireland export Sean Maguire arrived at the club from Cork City in July and he has hit the ground running while regularly being deployed out wide on the right. Horgan has been impressed by his former Dundalk team-mate, but says there is plenty of competition for places right throughout the Preston squad.
There are about six of us vying for the three positions behind the striker at the minute so there’s healthy competition. He’s got in and played well on the right so the manager has stuck with him.
“At the minute, it’s myself, Callum Robinson and Stephy Mavididi on the bench and all three of us are pushing hard and vying for spots. It’s not just me and Seanie knocking heads, there are a few of us.
“You need that strength-in-depth in the Championship because there are so many games. Hopefully the chance will come and I can take it.”
Horgan made his Ireland debut against Iceland but he has yet to feature in a competitive game. PA Archive / PA Images
PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images
Maguire is in Ireland’s finalised squad for the first time this week, and asked if he feels the forward is ready to make his Ireland debut, Horgan replied:
“Yeah, I think so. It’s a step up, everyone knows that — I think Sean knows that — but he has done really well since he has come in. He’s really hit the ground running and played most games. He has a couple of goals and is probably playing out of position, which isn’t easy. He’s been excellent.”
Things haven’t been going quite as well for Andy Boyle, who moved over from Dundalk around the same time as Horgan, as the centre-half has yet to make a league appearance for Preston this season.
“It’s similar to myself in a sense, the team has done well and conceded the least amount of goals in the league,” he says of his team-mate. “He’s working hard and is plugging away. If the opportunity does come he’ll be ready because he’s a very good professional.”
Having made his bow for Ireland in the March friendly against Iceland and then followed it up with a start in the defeat to Mexico three months later, Horgan is still waiting to line out in a competitive fixture for the Boys in Green.
Martin O’Neill’s side face Moldova in Dublin on Friday before the trip to Cardiff to take on Wales in their final World Cup qualifying Group D game and Horgan could very well be called upon in either or both.
Every time you’re called in you hope you’ll play,” he adds. “You prepare to play as much as you possibly can. Obviously, there are lads who have been there and done that but you’d be hopeful that an opportunity arrives.
“There are a couple of lads out but it’s still a very strong squad. We’ve 28-odd players there and it will be difficult to get a run. To be fair, I will get the chance but there a lot ahead of me at the minute. So finger’s crossed.”
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'There are about six of us vying for three positions. It’s not just me and Seanie knocking heads'
DARYL HORGAN HAS had quite the year.
This time 12 months ago, the Galwegian had just provided the assist for Dundalk’s winner against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Europa League. Since then, he sealed a move Preston North End, broke into their first team to feature regularly in the Championship and made his senior debut at international level.
“It has been a crazy year really, it’s been a bit mad,” Horgan said today. “But while you’re in it, you just keep wanting more and more.
“Maybe at the end of it I’ll look back and say ‘that was brilliant’, but I want to get the head down and keep working so I can play as much football as I possibly can.”
Having joined Preston back in December, the winger went on to make 21 league appearances in the second half of last season — scoring two goals and providing three assists.
However, with manager Simon Grayson departing for Sunderland over the summer, 25-year-old Horgan has found opportunities under his replacement Alex Neill hard to come by.
“We’ve started really well and shot up the table so we’re in the mix. The team has done brilliantly. I’d like to make more of an impact with more appearances but you can’t really fault anything that the team has done at the minute. I have to just keep the head down, keep working away and the opportunity will come.”
The Lilywhites currently sit sixth in the Championship and of their 11 league matches, Horgan has been restricted to four appearances as a second-half substitute. He did set up the winner against Hull City recently with a direct run and cross for Callum Robinson, however.
“Coming off the bench it’s going to be difficult, but if you can make some sort of impact — set up a goal, score, things like that — all the better. That’s what the manager is trying to do when he makes substitutions — win the game. Thankfully it paid off that day.”
Fellow League of Ireland export Sean Maguire arrived at the club from Cork City in July and he has hit the ground running while regularly being deployed out wide on the right. Horgan has been impressed by his former Dundalk team-mate, but says there is plenty of competition for places right throughout the Preston squad.
“At the minute, it’s myself, Callum Robinson and Stephy Mavididi on the bench and all three of us are pushing hard and vying for spots. It’s not just me and Seanie knocking heads, there are a few of us.
“You need that strength-in-depth in the Championship because there are so many games. Hopefully the chance will come and I can take it.”
Maguire is in Ireland’s finalised squad for the first time this week, and asked if he feels the forward is ready to make his Ireland debut, Horgan replied:
“Yeah, I think so. It’s a step up, everyone knows that — I think Sean knows that — but he has done really well since he has come in. He’s really hit the ground running and played most games. He has a couple of goals and is probably playing out of position, which isn’t easy. He’s been excellent.”
Things haven’t been going quite as well for Andy Boyle, who moved over from Dundalk around the same time as Horgan, as the centre-half has yet to make a league appearance for Preston this season.
“It’s similar to myself in a sense, the team has done well and conceded the least amount of goals in the league,” he says of his team-mate. “He’s working hard and is plugging away. If the opportunity does come he’ll be ready because he’s a very good professional.”
Having made his bow for Ireland in the March friendly against Iceland and then followed it up with a start in the defeat to Mexico three months later, Horgan is still waiting to line out in a competitive fixture for the Boys in Green.
Martin O’Neill’s side face Moldova in Dublin on Friday before the trip to Cardiff to take on Wales in their final World Cup qualifying Group D game and Horgan could very well be called upon in either or both.
“There are a couple of lads out but it’s still a very strong squad. We’ve 28-odd players there and it will be difficult to get a run. To be fair, I will get the chance but there a lot ahead of me at the minute. So finger’s crossed.”
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Alex Neill Competitive debut COYBIG Daryl Horgan LOI exports Sean Maguire Ireland Republic Preston North End