A MOVE BACK to England is becoming increasingly likely for the League of Ireland’s most coveted player, and Sean Maguire has said he would welcome the opportunity to have another crack at a career across the water.

Maguire in action against St Pat’s on Friday night.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The Cork City forward has started the season in sensational form and has inevitably attracted interest from England with Preston North End manager Simon Grayson in the crowd at Richmond Park on Friday night.

While Maguire, who spent two seasons at West Ham United before returning to Ireland with Dundalk and now Cork, has said he remains fully focused on the Leesiders’ title tilt, his long-term ambition is to go back to England.

The 22-year-old didn’t add to his tally of eight league goals for the season in Cork’s 3-0 win at Inchicore but did make another big impression, providing two assists as John Caulfield’s men maintained their 100% start to the campaign.

Maguire has been central to that and Cork may have to face the reality of losing their most prized asset when the summer transfer window opens.

“No, [I] wasn’t aware at all,” he said, when asked if he was aware Grayson and Preston’s club advisor Peter Ridsdale were in the stands.

Preston’s interest in the Ireland U21 international is hardly surprising, particularly when you consider the way former Dundalk pair Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan have settled into life at Deepdale.

Maguire admits seeing how well they’ve done at the Championship club is appealing.

“Yeah, big time,” he continued. “I think they’ve set the platform for players in the League of Ireland of my age to go. Andy and Daryl have gone over there and they haven’t looked out of place.

“Andy has played a lot of games, Daryl is coming off the bench, I know he has started here and there. They are doing brilliantly over there and I’m delighted for them.