What the signing of Calvin Ramsay could mean for Brad Potts

Preston North End made their first foray into the transfer market on Tuesday, with the loan signing of Calvin Ramsay from Liverpool on a season-long loan deal.

The 19-year-old Scottish defender joined Liverpool from Aberdeen last year, but has seen his first season with the Red disrupted by injury. He only made two appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side last season, playing the full 90 minutes in a Carabao Cup game, as well as three minutes in the Champions League.

So it will be expected that Ramsay will be getting some much needed experience of English football under his belt with Preston North End and Liverpool will have sent him to Deepdale with those expectations. He played 39 times for Aberdeen north of the border, and has been capped once by the Scottish national team.

Ever since Ryan Lowe arrived as Preston manager, he has favoured playing with wing-back’s but we have always seemed to lack a natural one, especially on the right hand side. On the left last season Alvaro Fernandez shined, whilst Robbie Brady provided a more experienced option. On the right however it was mainly down to Brad Potts to fill in, with Alan Browne shoehorned in on occasions.

To be fair to Potts, although he is a midfielder, he has performed admirably in the last 18 months, since being used in that role early on in Lowe’s tenure. He’s become a fan favourite, thanks to his superb goal against Luton, his strike against Blackpool and a last minute winner at home to Reading.

His workmanlike performances were crucial at times last season. His has great energy, which can prove vital at both ends of the pitch as the game nears its conclusion. Whilst not a natural wing-back by any means, you can’t say he was a weak link in that team.

However with the arrival of a natural right sided player, we may not see much of Potts in that role anymore. Ramsay said there were quite a few clubs interested in bringing him in on loan, but he was keen to come to Preston after meeting Lowe and hearing about the attacking style of play he wants to incorporate.

Ramsay picked up nine assists in his time at Aberdeen and he will be expecting to start in that right-wing back role. It could see Potts having to settle being a back up to the Scotsman. I can see Brad being a key substitute when we are looking to see games out. He’s physicality and experience would be crucial in helping guide us to victory, whereas Ramsay may take some time learning about the Championship.

Alternatively Potts could revert to his more natural position as a midfielder. That’s where the former Barnsley and Blackpool player is used to playing and it’s what we signed him as. Although he struggled before his positional switch, he looked astute when we first brought him in during the January 2019 transfer window.

He lost his way after that, but although we have quite a few options in the centre of midfield, none are quite like Potts in terms of his strength and height. It’s something Lowe may look at in pre-season.

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