No guarantee of starting place for Fleetwood's latest signing Tommy Spurr

Fleetwood Town sign Preston North End defender Tommy Spurr on loan

Barton is expected to favour a 4-3-3 formation, with Spurr able to play at centre half and left-back.

But Town already have three recognised centre-halves in player of the season Ash Eastham, Rotherham target Cian Bolger and experienced summer signing Craig Morgan from Wigan.

Versatile left-footer Spurr, 30, could also be an option for Town’s problematic left-side defensive role. Eddie Clarke, 19, has also been brought in from League Two Tranmere Rovers to try to fill the gap left by Amari’i Bell’s move to Blackburn Rovers in January.

Town beat Wigan to Clarke, who is among the players to have impressed Barton in the first two weeks of training.

Spurr got stuck into his first training session at Poolfoot Farm yesterday and he said: “I played left-back for a lot of years but I feel more comfortable at centre-half. Hopefully I can bring something to the team playing centre-back.”

And Spurr was glad to be back in the swing of things as he got to know his new team-mates.

He added: “It has felt like a long summer running on your own and trying to keep yourself right.

“It sort of got a bit boring, so it is nice to get straight in with the lads on my first day.”