Potters striker off to Preston

Preston have signed Stoke striker Jon Parkin on loan and he could make his debut against Charlton on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has moved to Deepdale on an emergency loan basis to ensure his immediate availability, with a full-time transfer set to be concluded next week.

And Parkin has set his sights on the Premier League after agreeing a three-year deal.

"I had a chance to go to a club down south, but Preston appealed to me much more on a massive scale," Parkin told the club's official website.

"Everything is geared up for a Premiership football club here. Preston have got off to a fantastic start this season and hopefully that can carry on."

North End boss Alan Irvine has struggled to sign players this summer given his financial constraints and had been linked with Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes.