MARK Hughes hopes that Paul Gallagher's loan spell with Preston North End will reap benefits in the long run.

The Rovers striker has this afternoon joined Championship side Preston North End on loan until January and has gone straight into their squad to face Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, a move that will hopefully be good for both Gallagher and Rovers.

"I've let Paul go out for three months, he's going to go to Preston," confirmed the Rovers boss.

"I just feel he needs some football, he's a very good player and I don't really want exceptional players to go out of the football club for any period of time, but I just think he needs to get some game time under his belt and we'll give him that opportunity.

"It is on his doorstep as well so he can fit in quite quickly, there'll be no disruption so he can hit the ground running, and hopefully when he comes back he'll be match fit and a real option for us in the new year."

Hughes revealed that he has had a number of enquiries to buy the Scottish international, but the manger has no plans to sell the 23 year-old despite Gallagher finding his chances with Rovers limited this season.

"I had a lot of enquiries for Paul, clubs asking to buy him, but they were knocked back straight away. I don't want him to leave the club. From our point of view we just want to get some game time into him, he's desperate to play.

"He's a young player and young players just want to get out there and kick the ball around. So I'm happy for him to go out on loan but we aren't looking to move him on."

The Rovers boss is expecting a quiet transfer deadline day, with no other business envisaged.

"Other clubs may well do business, but I'm hoping it is going to be quite quiet because I don't anticipate a great deal of movement, one way or the other."

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