The international keeper has been back home to Poland for knee surgery and has yet to resume training.

But with his North End contract only running to the end of the season, manager Irvine fears he might not get the time to assess if Szamotulski should get a new deal before he becomes a free transfer again.

"I hope Grzegorz is able to get back in action by the beginning of May," said the boss.

"Otherwise it is going to make life very difficult for us in terms of any kind of long-term decision.

"We were hoping we could have a good look at him in games.

"But if we don't get a chance to see him it makes it very difficult for me to make that decision."

Szamotulski is one of a number of new recruits who have been victims of a Deepdale injury jinx since joining the club in 2008.

The 6ft 2in keeper, who rejected a new contract at Dundee United in January to try his hand in English football, was crocked in his debut for the reserves at Manchester City a month ago.

Initially it was thought to be only a ligament injury which would take two to three weeks to heal. But a scan showed there was also cartilage damage and the Pole flew back to Warsaw to have an operation to repair the problem.

"The surgery was to tidy things up inside the knee and trim a bit of cartilage," revealed Irvine.

"Now it is just a case of waiting until he can get back to training, although it does look as if he is a bit off being ready to do that yet.

"He is certainly not looking like he is going to be back in the next couple of weeks, that's for sure. In fact he is quite far back really.

"I had been hoping he would have been available for the run-in because we need to see him.

"I'm not saying that he would have been in the team yet because Andrew Lonergan is playing really well.

"But it would be nice to get a look at him before the summer comes."

Szamotulski, Neal Trotman, Richard Chaplow and Craig Beattie have all been struck down by injury soon after signing for North End. Michael Hart arrived in January already sidelined.

Beattie has since returned to West Bromwich Albion after damaging his hamstring on his debut.

Irvine admits he would like to get the others a taste of first team action between now and May 4 - but only when Preston have guaranteed their Championship safety.

With seven points still needed in seven games to reach the manager's target of 54, Irvine knows there may not be many matches remaining for experimentation.