APPARENTLY not good enough for Manchester United, Liam Miller will probably feel like hanging up his boots if he can’t make a favourable impression at Elland Road.

Dispatched along the M62 for two months on loan, with Roy Keane’s words on under-achievement at Old Trafford still ringing in his ears, Miller has been handed the task of helping to keep Leeds in the Championship promotion picture.

They ought to do it, although a second sterile performance in as many matches suggests that Miller’s pedigree will surely allow him to stand out if he can show anything like the form that made him such a decent prospect at Celtic.

The 24-year-old, given the number 17 shirt once filled by Old Trafford teammate Alan Smith, made a promising start with some positive runs giving Leeds the early momentum, but once his lack of match fitness told, he dropped to the standard around him as Leeds often looked second-best to a Preston side hinting at a return to the form that made them play-offs finalists last season.

“He’s just getting used to the players and has to try and learn about the pace of the Championship,” said Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell of his new recruit.

“It’s different from where he’s come from. If you delay too long on the ball, you will know about it. But it’s important he gets a game under his belt and I am pleased for him.”

Blackwell admitted that some of his players looked jaded and bemoaned the lack of creativity, confirming that he remains on the look-out for a right-sided midfielder with the ability to break down teams, especiallyat Elland Road.

Yet Preston were never defensive, switching to 4-4-2 within the first 15 minutes, when on-loan midfielder David Jones, who unlike Miller may have a future at Manchester United, gave way to David Nugent after injuring a thigh when caught high by Leeds full-back Dan Harding.

And despite being three or four weeks away from full fitness, according to his manager Billy Davies, Nugent was the best player on the pitch as he continues his recovery from impetigo, a debilitating virus.

His return as a substitute against Hull City last Tuesday night coincided with Preston’s first win in 10 games.

The England Under-21 international forced Neil Sullivan to save and then failed to connect with a decent heading chance from Paul McKenna’s cross, while Leeds’ only chance came and went as Carlo Nash smartly stopped substitute Robbie Blake’s volley on the turn.

All of that happened in the final 12 minutes and the less said about the preceding 78 the better.

STAR MAN: David Nugent (Preston)

Player ratings: Leeds: Sullivan 6, Kelly 6, Butler 6, Kilgallon 6, Harding 6, Richardson 6 (Douglas, 72min, 6), Derry 6, Miller 6 (Moore, 90mins, 6), Lewis 5, Hulse 5, Healy 5 (Blake, 72min, 6)

Preston: Nash 6, Alexander 7 (Mawene, 86min, 6), Lucketti 6, Davis 7, Hill 6, Sedgwick 5, McKenna 7, Jones 5, O’Neil 6 (Etuhu, 45min, 6), Davidson 6, Agyemang 5 Referee: A D’Urso

Attendance: 24,673

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football