Preston North End boss Darren Ferguson admits they're aiming to establish close ties with Manchester United after signing Danny Welbeck on-loan.

Ferguson agreed that there has always been a strong connection between North End and United with the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, David Healy, Jon Macken and David Beckham all heading down that well trodden path, but he also said that his family connections were not a major factor in the move.

Ferguson told pnefc.net: "There seems to have been a good relationship between the two clubs down the years for whatever reason. I identified Danny as one that if I could do it, I would want to do it and I've spoken to my dad over the last week or so and I spoke to the boy myself and his family and the talks went well. He's what we're after and where we want to go with the Club. Obviously he is only here until the end of the season, but hopefully he makes a good impression and we take it from there.

"People will say that I'm his gaffer's son and that I might have an advantage, but that is certainly not the case. My father only does what's best for Man United, even though I'm his son. He wouldn't have sent him here if he didn't think it was the right move.

"There were other clubs interested, including a couple of Premiership clubs, but the lad himself just didn't feel he'd get the games needed. He needs the experience of playing weekly and in the next four or five weeks we have about eight games straight away, so he needs to get that. He has been playing recently as well, so it is not a case of just putting him in gently, he will come straight into it, because he has enough games under his belt this season and I am looking forward to working with him.

"I quite possibly could have had two or three in from United, but I have to look at what we need and that was an area I felt we needed to strengthen."