Town have missed out on signing Manchester United defender Jonny Evans on loan. The Northern Irish international recently returned from a spell at Royal Antwerp, renewing boss Jim Magilton's interest, but the 18-year-old is reported to be joining Sunderland for the rest of the season.

In October, Jim Magilton revealed that two loan bids for Evans had been turned down by Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Preston boss Paul Simpson is yet to decide whether former Town midfielder Tommy Miller will be offered a permanent deal at Deepdale in January: "I have been pleased with Tommy even though he was forced to go into the side when we were having a dodgy patch.

"He has shown a lot and put in a good performance and showed good fitness levels for the reserves on Wednesday, so we will have to wait and see what happens.

"We haven't discussed anything at this present moment but we will do."

Town were close to re-signing Miller on loan in November but, with five loan players already at the club, Jim Magilton dropped his interest in the Sunderland midfielder. Clubs are limited to fielding five loanees in any one game and Magilton didn't want to sign a player on loan who he was unlikely to be able to play.

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