[Mighty T.A.L.]

Simpson insists Mellor is worth the wait

Paul Simpson is hoping that 2007 can be a big year for Preston North End striker Neil Mellor.

Mellor has yet to kick a ball for the first team following his August arrival from Liverpool because of a knee injury, while it's coming up for a year since Nowland broke his leg in two places in the January victory at Norwich.

Updating their progress, Simpson said: "Neil is doing really well at the moment, he's had his set-backs but hopefully he's over them.

"When we signed him we knew there was going to be a period where we would have to be patient, although we didn't expect to have to wait this long.

"But we felt Neil was going to be a great long-term signing and I still believe that.

"In the short space of time we had him fit in training and playing for the reserves, he looked a great goalscorer.

"At the moment, we only have Brett Ormerod at the club who you could call a natural goalscorer – one who scores scruffy goals off his backside or whatever.

"I think Neil is the same sort of player as Brett and hopefully during January we will see a lot more of him.

"When we play the first reserve game of the New Year, I would like to think he is playing a part in that.

"Along with Adam Nowland, he has been doing all his football rehabilitation in the last two weeks and is looking a lot better to when he played for the reserves earlier in the season.

"Back then, he had very much of a limp, but we
always expected that to go once the nerve endings began to settle down.

"He is closer to running smoothly and looking a lot better."

Source: http://www.prestontoday.net