EX-BLACKBURN Rovers star Mike Newell is the latest player to be linked with a move to Preston North End as David Moyes looks to make last-minute additions to his injury-ravaged squad.

But if Moyes wants to add any more players to the trio he has brought into Deepdale this week, he will have to move quickly, with the annual transfer deadline due to expire at 5pm today (Thursday).

Sources in Scotland suggest Newell may be prepared to leave his current club, Aberdeen, after a less-than-successful spell in Scottish football.

It is also rumoured that Tepi Moilenan may be part of the deal, with the big Finn journeying North to Pittodrie.

Moyes has consistently said that none of his players are for sale, but with Tepi nearly match fit and David Lucas in fine form, the Scot manager may see fit to keep the England U20 keeper in place and let Tepi, who won't enjoy being on the bench, go.

Wigan and Tranmere are also believed to interested in Newell, who has scored more than 100 league goals and will forever be extolled at Ewood Park as the man who got Rovers into the Premier League.

He scored the only goal of their 1992 play off against Leicester to enable Rovers to become a founder member of the Premier League.

He formed a magic partnership with Alan Shearer before the arrival of Chris Sutton and was an integral part of the championship winning side in 1995.

Before moving to Birmingham City in 1996 he scored a hat trick in the Champions League to provide possibly the only highlight of Rovers' doomed European quest.

So far, three new faces have been brought into Deepdale as the cheque book was finally dusted off for the first time in months.

Moyes has brought in Nottingham Forest right-winger Paul McGregor - who was being chased by Walsall and Plymouth - and Burnley defender Mark Winstanley, who will provide essential re-enforcement for Preston's depleted back row.

The finishing touches are being put to a deal to bring Luton's right-back Graham Alexender to Deepdale.

Again, cover for the right-back slot was desperately needed after losing Dominic Ludden to a thigh strain last week.

Alexander's arrival would be a massive boost for North End because title-rivals Gillingham are also chasing the player.

An attempt to bring back Craig Harrison, who impressed when on loan from Middlesbrough earlier this season, has been scuppered by the Riverside team, who wanted an immediate call-back clause.

But on-loan Andy Gray has been sent back to Nottingham Forest.

Moyes said: "His loan period is up and he didn't look the part. To be fair to the lad, he knows he hasn't done himself justice here.

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