Preston North End sign Burnley defender Leon Cort

Cort joined Burnley from Stoke City in January

Preston North End have signed defender Leon Cort on loan from Championship rivals Burnley until 31 December.

The 31-year-old has played five games for the Clarets this season but has not featured since being sent off in the 4-0 defeat by Reading on 23 October.

"This has come at a good time for him," Burnley manager Brian Laws told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He lost his position after being sent off and when you're an experienced player you want to play."

Laws added: "It's not just that that's cost him. Michael Duff has come in and formed a good partnership with Clarke Carlisle."

"Andre Bikey is also fully fit, ready to go and desperately wants to play.

"That just helped the fact that I think it would be a good time to let Leon go out on loan for a month and then we can call him back if and when we need to."

Cort, who began his career as a trainee at Millwall, had spells at Southend and Hull before moving Crystal Palace for £1.25m in June 2006.

He joined Stoke City for £1.2m in January 2008 and was part of the Potters side that won promotion to the Premier League later that year but, after falling out of favour at the Britannia Stadium, moved to Turf Moor for £1.5m in January.

Cort could make his Preston debut in Saturday's visit of Millwall.

"I've known the deal has been trying to come about for a couple of weeks. It's just been ironing a few things out and now that's done I'm delighted to be here," said Cort.

"I got back in the team at Burnley and did well but was then sent off and it's been hard to get back in. It's been quite frustrating really."

Preston have also confirmed that striker Joshua King is to return to Deepdale on a youth loan from Manchester United until 4 January.

The Norwegian forward's previous loan spell at Preston cut short after suffering an ankle injury but the youngster will re-join the club when fit to add to North End's depleted attacking options.