Coutts is all set for his home debut with Preston

Former Cove Rangers midfielder Paul Coutts will make his home debut for Preston North End against Sheffield United at Deepdale tonight.

“It is a big opportunity for me,” said Aberdeen-born Coutts, who is back with his former Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson.

“It’s good to be back with Darren,” said Coutts, who moved to Deepdale from the Posh in the January transfer window after making his name in the Highland League.

“Darren is the only manager I’ve worked with for any length of time,” said Coutts, signed by Ferguson in 2008 when moving from the Aberdeen club across the border to Peterborough

“When we talked about me coming to Preston, he told me it was a big step and a big opportunity to progress my career.

“I have got a lot of faith in him and it was an easy decision to make to join Preston.

“I’m delighted be here. Preston made an inquiry about me midway through January, which was turned down.

“Towards the end of the transfer window I didn’t think it was going to come off, but in the end it did. Because the deadline was so close, Preston had to take me on loan. I wouldn’t have been able to make it in time to sign before the 5pm deadline, so the loan was done to give everyone the breathing space.”

Last Tuesday Coutts sat in the stands at Deepdale as Preston collapsed to a 4-1 home defeat by Barnsley.

There was no dream start for the former Highland League player as Coutts was on the losing side on his debut in the 2-0 loss at Swansea City.

But the former Aberdeen youth team player is looking forward and said: “I enjoyed my time working under Darren Ferguson at Peterborough. I couldn’t wait to be back alongside him. The manager is good to work for and I like the way he tries to play.”