ERIC SKORA got his month-long loan to Walsall off to a flying start at the weekend.

He scored the Saddlers' second in a 2-0 victory over Gillingham to cap a star performance in League One.

Coming on as substitute, he volleyed home early in the second half after getting on the end of Ishmel Demontagnac's cross via a head-down by Jorge Leitao.

Manager Paul Merson was full of praise for Skora. He said: "Eric Skora was outstanding. He is a class act and really stood out for us.

"I don't think he wasted a pass and capped off a fine debut performance with a good goal.

"He really enjoyed it out there and I am looking forward to seeing more of him over the next month."

The 24-year-old has made 50 appearances for North End since joining from Nancy, in his native France, in October 2001.

However, he has not featured for Preston for a year since suffering cruciate knee ligament damage.

He did enjoy a successful loan spell at Kilmarnock, but the Scottish club were rebuffed when they moved in to sign him permanently.