'Anything is possible for Preston' - Ormerod

It is not impossible to believe Preston could win promotion to the Premier League for the first time, says former North End striker Brett Ormerod.

The Lilywhites are fifth in the Championship after Saturday's 3-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday, having lost just one of their past seven games.

"When we got promoted with Ian Holloway (at Blackpool), [it shows] anything is possible," Ormerod told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It gets tougher every year because of the teams coming down and the money involved.

"You look at the Championship and there aren't many who haven't been in the Premier League before - Preston haven't so they are up against it."

Preston lost in both the 2001 and 2005 play-off finals but Ormerod believes with some strengthening in the transfer window they could sustain another promotion challenge.

"They have to cut their cloth accordingly but there's a bit of optimism there and can they get to January in this same position and maybe get a couple of signings for that run-in?" he added.

"If he (boss Paul Heckingbottom) can stay in that top six over the Christmas period it gives him a stronger hand to go to the board and say 'how ambitious are we?' Because Preston have always been a nearly team."

Preston are next in action at home to Wrexham on Saturday, 6 December (15:00 GMT).