ANDREW Lonergan has spoken out for the first about the speculation linking him with a big-money move to the Premiership, and insisted: "I'm not going anywhere."

The 21-year-old has been out of action for nearly two months with a broken hand, an injury sustained in training.

But that hasn't stopped talk reaching fever pitch about Arsenal or Fulham, both clubs in need of goalkeeping reinforcements, sweeping to take Lonergan, a product of the club's youth system.

The fact that chairman Derek Shaw has warned fans more of the club's players may have to be sold off if attendances don't improve, has only served to fuel the rumour-mongers.

But Lonergan said: "Preston is where I am, it is the team I love and I can't wait to get back in to the side.

"It's certainly where I'm going to be all season."

Such a resolute stance would make it very hard for North End to sell him, and certainly Billy Davies would be loathe to save his penalty-saving, goal-scoring, between-the-sticks star.

Lonergan could be set for a return against West Ham on December 18, forcing Jonathan Gould back on to the bench.

Whether North End want to hang on to three keepers, Gavin Ward being the third, remains to be seen.

For North End, it's been a mixed week. Following their 5-0 defeat at Wigan, Preston were drawn at home to West Brom in the FA Cup.

Any hopes of the Baggies putting out a weakened side, as their priority has to be surviving in the Premiership, have been kicked into touch by new Hawthornes boss Bryan Robson.

He said: "We want a real good cup run this season. It's a great way to instil confidence for the league and we can handle it.

"We were out of the League Cup early and there's not a great demand on our players in terms of fixtures.

"We can handle our schedule and prepare really well for this one."

For Davies, though, the priority remains this weekend's league fixture.

It's Burnley, at Turf Moor, and the teams are quite close in the league table at the moment.

Davies said: "The most important thing is that we forget about last week by doing well this week."