Brown believes Gregan will kick off at Preston

Preston manager Craig Brown believes midfielder Sean Gregan is likely to remain at Deepdale for the start of the season.

The First Division club have agreed a fee with Premiership West Brom for the player but Brown admitted the deal is still some way off completion.

"It looks like he’s staying," Brown told the club’s official website, www.pnefc.net after last night’s 3-1 friendly defeat by Manchester City.

"The clubs have agreed a fee but it looks like he and West Brom can’t come to an agreement over personal terms."

Gregan played for 45 minutes at Deepdale last night and impressed Brown with his performance.

The former Scotland manager added: "He was desperate to play so I told him to get his head on and we compromised and I said I’d play him for the first half.

"He was imperious at the back and is the talisman of the team.

"Of course we don’t want to see him go. But we always said if a suitable offer came in we wouldn’t stand in the way of him going to the Premier League."