by Martin Spinks

A RECENT Preston match report describes Jon Parkin as "darting away from his marker" en route to scoring his first pre-season goal.

Can this possibly be the same Jon Parkin keeping local pie shops in handsome profit during his 18 months with Stoke?

Well the big fella has certainly been playing with a spring in his step, by all accounts, since leaving Stoke for Preston at the start of last season.

The Beast munched his way through 11 league goals – including four in successive matches – to make him top scorer at Deepdale and help fire Preston into the play-offs.

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