WANDERERS are thought to be seeking alternatives to a Sammy Ameobi return, and have been linked with a loan move for Preston North End’s Eoin Doyle.

Phil Parkinson has made no secret of his wish to bring Ameobi back from Newcastle United after some inspired showings in the first half of the season.

But, while a second spell for the Toon frontman remains a possibility, the Whites manager must explore other options or risk being short-handed over the run-in.

Doyle signed for Preston from Cardiff last summer after a near-season-long loan spell but has been finding first-team opportunities limited in recent weeks.

It has been far from the happiest of seasons for Doyle at Deepdale.

In 15 appearances he has scored just three goals, two in the EFL Cup, and his only Championship strike came before an injury-time red card for fighting with team-mate Jermaine Beckford in a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

North End manager Simon Grayson is said to be interested in bringing in Robbie Keane, whose LA Galaxy contract has expired, and would be willing to send Doyle out to make room in the squad.

Should Parkinson fend off competition for the 28-year-old from Portsmouth and manager Paul Cook, who oversaw Doyle’s breakthrough season in English football at Chesterfield, they would be expected to pay a significant portion of the Irish striker’s wages.

A move to bring Ameobi back into the Macron fold would be Parkinson’s preferred option, though he must abide by the ‘one in, one out’ rules laid out by the EFL embargo hanging over the club.

In Wanderers’ favour is the fact Ameobi has played for both clubs this season, league rules meaning that appearing for a third is out of the question.

However, any deal would depend on a chain of events, including Newcastle bringing in Andros Townsend from Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace or completing a potential move for Swansea’s out-of-favour winger Modou Barrow.

Newcastle are also waiting on a return for three players – Christian Atsu, Chancel Mbemba and Mo Diame are all away on African Cup of Nations duty. However, the trio’s countries – Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, respectively – have all qualified from the group stage ahead of the final round of matches.

Wanderers officials were staying tight-lipped on specualtion regarding any possible move for Doyle.