Preston North End midfielder Ben Pearson says Josh Harrop quit Manchester United over the summer as he wanted regular first team football.

Harrop, 21, left United after his Old Trafford contract ran out.

And Pearson, also an ex-United player, told Sky Sports: “With the money being spent at that club it was always going to be tough for him to carry that on.

“He has made a similar decision to me, to come here and play games.

“For many young players that has to be the route if you're not getting regular football at a Premier League club.

“There are two ways of doing it really. You either come down from the Premier League or you work your way up the way that [Preston's former non-league striker] Jordan Hugill has done."