BOHEMIANS have agreed a loan deal for Preston North End defender Kian Best.
The left-footed defender will remain with Bohs until the summer, when his North End contract expires.
Best clocked up 12 appearances in the Championship last season in a variety of positions.
That led to an England under-19 call-up and he notched a goal and an assist on his debut against Romania and won a further four caps.
Al-Ettifaq – managed by Steven Gerrard – failed in a bid to bring him to the Saudi Arabia Pro League last summer.
But his sole league outing for North End this term was as a late substitute in their opening fixture against Sheffield United.
Ryan Lowe stepped down as manager after that game and Best’s only outings under his successor Paul Heckingbottom have been in Carabao Cup ties against Harrogate Town and Arsenal.
He has been an unused substitute for 11 Championship fixtures and Heckingbottom admitted recently that he needed to get out and play.
He said: “Yean, Kian needs game time. I’ve spoken with Kian about that. Kian needs minutes, loans.”
With his contract up at the end of the season, Best – who can play at full-back or centre-half – will hope to use the loan switch as a chance to impress.
Bohs have had another English defender, Alex Lacey, on trial in pre-season.
He and French striker Lys Mousset – who cost Sheffield United £10million when they signed him from Bournemouth in 2019 – both scored in a 4-2 friendly win over Drogheda United on Tuesday.
The pair have made a decent impression with boss Alan Reynolds is expected to make a decision on whether or not to offer the pair contracts before the end of the week.
Both are free agents with Lacey parting company with Hartlepool United last summer and Mousset without a club since his contract with VfL Bochum 12 months ago.
Bohs have already brought in John Mountney, Niall Morahan and Colm Whelan during the close-season but more additions are expected before their first league game against Shamrock Rovers on February 16.
Whelan has not yet featured in pre-season but there is no serious concern over the fitness of the ex-Derry City striker.
He, Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall are all being handled cautiously, following ACL injuries.
