Barky's gamble paid off with move to Deepdale

When Tom Barkhuizen agreed to join Preston North End in November 2016 the graft and gamble all felt worth it.

- by George Hodgson

He inflicted the ultimate test upon himself when dropping down to League Two, with Morecambe, after being let go by Blackpool.

After 18 months with the Shrimps, the call from Deepdale came; he would go on to score 38 goals and assist 21 in 209 appearances for PNE.

Now, three years after his departure in disappointing circumstances, he is ready to look back.

"I'd not had a good time at Blackpool in that last year," said Barkhuizen. "I think I had played 25 Championship games and was earning £300 a week...I was probably the lowest-paid Championship player ever; I was not 18 at this point, I was 21ish. I had to start making a living.