Brown is a big admirer of

The 19-year-old had spells at Darlington and Blackpool last season.

And with Tepi Moilanen's return from a loan spell at Hearts leaving Brown with three senior keepers, Lonergan's best chance of first-team football is again likely to come away from Deepdale.

"We would probably prefer initially that he goes on loan somewhere," confirmed Brown, who is not looking to part company with Lonergan on a permanent basis.

"Andy is a very accomplished goalkeeper chosen by England to go to the Toulon tournament, so he is in the top group of goalkeepers in his own age bracket.

"Hopefully, if Andy is not in the Preston first team very soon, then he will be challenging for the first-choice place at least," Brown told the club's website.