Andrew Lonergan says the serious knee injury suffered by Preston team-mate Youl Mawene is a huge blow.
Mawene is facing several months on the sidelines with a torn medial ligament suffered in Monday night's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at Deepdale.
He collided with goalkeeper Lonergan after getting a shove from Magpies striker Marlon Harewood as they chased a ball in the North End area.
It will be well into the New Year until the Frenchman is fit enough to return, although one comfort Mawene can take is that his cruciate ligament wasn't damaged which would have meant even longer out – that was a real fear until a scan showed otherwise.
Lonergan said: "Youl's injury is a big blow for everyone here.
"It's disappointing news, and myself being involved in the incident doesn't make me feel so great.
"We feared it might be quite serious at the time, it takes a lot for Youl to stay down in the way he did.
"We've had a look at what happened, he got a kick on the heels and a push which forced him into me.
"Youl had played really well in the game, he had a rest for a few games to freshen up and that looked like it had done him the world of good.
"He's a good professional and will come back from this."Mawene's prognosis was delivered after a scan on Wednesday afternoon and a visit to a specialist."
It's the second time in three years he's suffered a serious knee injury, having damaged the cruciate ligament in his other knee in a friendly against Manchester United in July, 2006.
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