Fleetwood Town sign Preston North End defender Tommy Spurr on loan

Spurr, 30, only made five appearances for Championship side PNE last term after picking up a knee injury at the start of October.

When the versatile left-footed defender, who can play at either centre-half or left-back, returned to fitness he could not oust ex-Fleetwood loanee Ben Davies, Tom Clarke, Paul Huntington and company from the North End defence as Alex Neil's side finished seventh in the Championship.

That lack of game time and the wealth of competition at the back at PNE is the reason Neil has allowed Spurr to go out on-loan.

And now the 30-year-old ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers man is eager to rack up the minutes under Joey Barton at Town as he bids to help them rack up the wins in this League One term.

He said:"I started last season, did my knee early doors and could not get back in because the lads at Preston had done well.

"It is good for me to come here and play some games and get back enjoying coming in, looking forward to a game at a weekend and trying to win games."

And for Spurr the lure of joining Joey Barton's new era at Town as well as regular game time helped make his decision to join Fleetwood easier.

Spurr played against then-Burnley player Barton during his time at East Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers so knows exactly what to expect from his new boss.

Now Spurr, who was part of the 2012-13 League One championship winning Doncaster Rovers side, is back in the third tier but he is determined to help Town improve on last term's 14th-placed finish and compete at the right end.

He said: "As soon as I found out the gaffer was interested I wanted to come here, play games and try and be a part of something.

"Joey was massive (in my decision).

"Obviously his playing career was top class, for him to show an interest in me was flattering.

"I just wanted to come and be a part of it and finish as high as we can in the league."