FEATURE: O'Neill Returns To U19s In Carlisle Defeat

Photo credit: PNEFC.net

Mikey O’Neill made his first competitive appearance in a month, turning out for Preston North End U19s in a 2-1 loss to Carlisle United.

The 18-year-old has been flirting with the senior side for the past three months, making four appearances off the bench for Ryan Lowe’s side in that time.

He made his first start for the U19s at Springfields as the side fell to their first defeat of the season and only their second in the league for the entirety of 2022.

“We’re disappointed,” said O’Neill, speaking to PNE.Com after the match.

“It was two poor goals to concede, we didn’t create many chances, but we’ve got to take it for what it is.”

He was critical of his own performance particularly and believed he should have got his name on the scoresheet.

He said: “I made sloppy mistakes. Obviously, I haven’t played in a month, which isn’t an excuse but I should have got a goal and I should have been better.”

O’Neill admitted he is still adjusting to the centre-forward role he has been deployed in, having come through the ranks as an attacking midfielder.

“The club want me as a striker because they know I can score goals,” he said.

“It is new obviously but I’ve got to get used to it and hopefully once I’ve got used to it I can perform as well as I have when playing deeper like I have done all these years.”

O’Neill is ineligible for the U19s’ next match, a match against arch rivals Blackpool in the Professional Development Cup.

“Hopefully they can bounce back in the cup next week and win,” he said.

The match will take place on Saturday 3^rd September at Springfields with kick-off at 10.30am.