MIDDLESBROUGH youngster Bradley Fewster has joined League One promotion hopefuls Preston on loan for the remainder of the season.

Fewster, who is an England youth international, played against Preston in a Capital One Cup second-round tie in August, having made his senior debut at Oldham Athletic in the previous round.

The Middlesbrough-born striker has been in fine form for Boro's development side this season, scoring four goals in six games, and has also claimed five goals in as many games for England's Under-19 side.

His loan move to Preston follows hot on the heels of Emmanuel Ledesma's move to Rotherham and Luke Williams' extension of his stay at Scunthorpe United.

"Bradley has a fantastic pedigree," said Preston boss Simon Grayson. "He is still a young lad learning his trade, but he has scored lots of goals for Middlesbrough’s Under-21s and for England. We feel we have got a player who can play anywhere across the front line."