Middlesbrough's Alex Baptiste joins Preston North End on loan

Preston North End have announced the signing of Middlesbrough defender Alex Baptiste on a loan deal running until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old, who joined Boro last summer, links back up with former Blackpool manager Simon Grayson at Deepdale.

"It'll be good to be back playing again. Obviously I know a lot about the North West so I'm really looking forward to the challenge," Baptiste told the Preston website.

"I will just give 100%, I try my best. I play centre-half or right-back but wherever I play I will give my best and that's all you can do really.

"I'm getting older now so I have a bit of experience and so I can try and help the team by passing on things I have learnt."

Baptiste only made his Boro debut last week after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a double leg fracture, sustained just five days after he joined the club.