Preston North End face Sheffield United on Friday night at Deepdale as they look to continue their solid start.
Preston North End have started in impressive form but face a tough test against Sheffield United on Friday. PNE begun the better of the two teams, with the Blades recently climbing out of the bottom three under returning manager Chris Wilder.
The Lilywhites will be eager to return to winning ways after losing their unbeaten home league record. Their recent 1-0 defeat to Chris Davies’s Birmingham City was their third defeat of the season, but first at Deepdale.
Image courtesy of: ED SYKES/REUTERS.
The tie saw the Midlands side score a controversial winner, with Paul Heckingbottom calling out the officials for other key incidents throughout the 90 minutes.
Heckingbottom was in charge of upcoming opponents Sheffield United for two-and-a-half-years in total and with another home game coming up, he will be hoping to get one over his former side on Friday night.
Paul Heckingbottom’s record at Sheffield United
Sheffield United come into the Preston North End clash off the back of a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers. The Blades scored three second half goals to claim all three points.
Preston North End team news
Unfortunately for Preston North End, they will still be without summer signings Pol Valentin and Jordan Thompson for Fridays game. Valentin is making good progress from his injury he sustained in their home game with Bristol City, whilst Thompson still hasn’t kicked a ball competitively for PNE.
The midfielder arrived from Stoke City in the summer but the Northern Irishman is “in and around the squad” as he steps up return bid.
Elsewhere, Brad Potts remains the closes to return but will miss out on Friday’s game. The fans favourite picked up a setback on his hamstring injury during pre-season and is yet to feature this campaign.
Image courtesy of: JASON CAIRNDUFF/REUTERS.
Other players on the sidelines are Robbie Brady and Will Keane who, like Potts, are yet to pull on a PNE shirt this season.
Defensive midfielder Ali McCann went off in his side’s last league outing with manager Heckingbottom stating his arm was sore, but will be available to face Sheffield United.
Striker Milutin Osmajic replaced Daniel Jebbison in the 72nd minute as he builds up his fitness from a back injury he sustained prior to the last international break.
Predicted XI
(3-5-2)
Iversen; Storey, Gibson, Hughes; Offiah, McCann, Whiteman, Armstrong, Small; Devine, Jebbison.
Daniel Iversen will continue in goal after continuing to impress this season for Preston North End. He’ll have the Jordan Storey, Lewis Gibson and Andrew Hughes starting in front of him.
Odel Offiah will start on the right after his man-of-the-match display last time out, while Thierry Small will return to the XI on the left, covering for Vuckevic.
Central midfielders Ben Whiteman and McCann will start, with the latter being substituted last time out. Harrison Armstrong will join them, maintaining is place with Stefan Thordarson offering support from the bench.
In front of them, Jebbison will start against his former side in attack, along with fellow loan player Alfie Devine. Michael Smith and Osmajic will be ready to be called upon as subs.
The clash between Preston North End and Sheffield United kicks off at 20:00 on Friday.