Nugent happy to stay at Preston

Dec 11 2006

STRIKER David Nugent has told Preston he wants to say at Deepdale "at the very least" until the end of the season - despite his situation being monitored by Aston Villa.

Nugent is expected to attract bids from Premiership clubs when the transfer window reopens in January and was watched by Villa manager Martin O'Neill and chief scout Ian Storey-Moore in Saturday's 3-1 Championship defeat at leaders Blues.

But the England Under-21 player is keen to play his part in helping fourth-placed Preston climb into the top flight.

Nugent, who has 18 months left of his current contract, said: "I like the speculation. It's nice to see your name in the paper - but I'm a Preston player.

"We are fourth in the league. The last couple of years we have got into the play-offs and have come so close to going up. I want to stay here and try to get us in the Premiership.

"In an ideal world I'd like to stay at Preston. If the chairman and the manager get offers, they will either reject them or accept them.

"But I'm happy at Preston and want to get them to the Premiership. At the very least I'd like to stop to the end of the season."