Sam Johnstone re-joins Preston North End on loan

Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has joined Championship side Preston North End on an emergency loan.

The Whites had Sunderland stopper Jordan Pickford on loan for the first half of the season, but the youngster has recently been recalled by the Black Cats.

Preston have moved quickly in the loan window, however, and Johnstone will move to Deepdale for the second time in his career, having previously represented the club in the second half of last season.

Johnstone kept 12 clean sheets in the second half of the 2014-15 campaign and was in goal when they beat Swindon Town in the final of the League One playoff in May.

"Sam is someone we know very well and someone we tried to sign in the summer. It is a big boost to have him available and back at the football club again," Preston boss Simon Grayson told the club's official website.

"Jordan has gone back and we would like to thank him for his efforts whilst he was here. It is no surprise, considering how well he has done that they want to have a look at him. He was fantastic to work with and he contributed majorly to us, but that disappointing news was countered by the news we were able to bring Sam back to the football club.

"We made no secret of the fact we wanted Sam back in the summer and we made a huge effort to get it done, but it didn't materialise then, however, we are in a good position now, bringing in someone who knows all about us, knows the players and the way we work and hopefully he will slot back in just how he left us at Wembley."

Meanwhile, Johnstone added: "It's good to eventually come back, I'm glad I'm back and hopefully I can start playing games now.

"It's great to be around the team at Manchester United, but I am 22-years-old and I have to think about myself a little bit and I need to be playing first team football. I get to do that now in the Championship, which is a great league to play in.

"My last game here for Preston was at Wembley, it was a great day, but now we've got to kick on. I've seen the results that the lads have been getting recently and hopefully we can carry that on."

Johnstone, who has initially joined Preston for 28 days, was involved in Man United's pre-season tour, but has not featured for the first team this season.