Preston North End were today expected to complete the signing of Polish striker Pawel Abbott, who spent much of his childhood in York.

Terry Venables' Middlesbrough were casting their eye over Abbott, hailed as one of Poland's brightest footballing prospects.

The 18-year-old had two trial spells on Teesside but failed to earn a contract with Boro and underwent more trials at Deepdale.

He impressed the Division One club sufficiently to persuade Preston boss David Moyes to pay his Polish club, FC LKS Lodz, a fee of around £150,000 for his services.

The 6ft 2ins youngster is highly rated in Poland and is a first team player for Lodz, who have won the Polish championship twice.

Abbott, who lived in York until he was 11 and was a pupil at Our Lady's RC Primary School in Acomb, could soon come face-to-face with York City's England Under-18 'keeper Russ Howarth.

Abbott is a member of the Polish Under-18 squad that will meet their English counterparts in a two-legged play-off in March for a place in this summer's European Championship finals.

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, February 14, 2001