Jan Poortvliet looked back over the twist of fate that handed Oscar Gobern his brilliant debut at Preston and admitted: “Sometimes stars are born like that.”

The 17-year-old was not due to be in the Saints squad until a change of plan on Friday morning.

Rudi Skacel was continuing to struggle with a hamstring injury and with Joseph Mills suffering from the illness that has swept through the Saints camp, Gobern was taken to Deepdale.

But when Skacel was fit to play Gobern took his place in the stands – until Jason Euell injured his hip in the warm-up.

Lloyd James was promoted to the starting line up and Gobern was on the bench.

After a torrid first half in which Saints fell 2-0 behind, Poortvliet went for broke by handing Gobern his debut.

The youngster repaid Poortvliet's faith with a stunning display that gave his team a 3-2 win.

Poortvliet said: “When everyone was fit he was in the stands.

“He only came with us because on Friday Rudi was not totally fit.

“Jason fell out of the squad in the warm-up and Jordan Robertson had dropped out on Saturday morning because he was sick.

“Sometimes stars are born like that.”