Preston defender Youl Mawene has hailed team-mate Sean St Ledger as "different class" and backed him to make the grade at the highest level.

Mawene struck up a hugely successful partnership with St Ledger last season as North End reached the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.

Republic of Ireland international St Ledger has been linked with a number of clubs over the summer, including Everton, Burnley, Celtic and West Brom.

And Frenchman Mawene told the Evening Post: "Ledge is doing very well here - he's in a different class, to be honest.

"He's got pretty much everything going for him. Hopefully Preston can keep him for longer, from my point of view he has been a pleasure to play alongside in the defence.

"But chances to play at a higher level don't come along too often and a footballer's career is a relatively short one. Sometimes players have big decisions to make."