PNE`s BURCHILL BLOW

CELTIC boss Martin O`Neill has scuppered Preston's hopes of making a loan swoop for striker Mark Burchill, after he scored a hat-trick in the Glasgow club's 7-0 Uefa Cup thrashing of Jeunesse Esch.

Earlier in August, Burchill had his transfer request granted, after he grew disillusioned at being down the Celtic striking pecking order.

Lillywhites boss David Moyes then enquired about bringing the young forward to Deepdale and, at the time, O`Neill stated that he could leave.

However, after checking the rules, the former Leicester boss has ruled out the switch.  It has emerged that if Burchill had moved, he would be ineligible for The Bhoys' European campaign for the next six months.

Speaking on Friday, O`Neill said: "We might be out by then anyway, but I still don't want him to go.

"Mark will have a future here. There is absolutely no way we will allow him to go on loan because that would mean we wouldn't be able to re-register him for Europe until February.

"I would prefer him to stay. But you never know - I might get a £6 million bid on the table tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Preston have been dealt another blow, with the news that they, along with Sheffield United, have been charged by the Football League after the two teams were involved in a mass brawl.