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Brown ruled out of Coventry clash
Preston North End striker Chris Brown has been told to forget a return to first-team action at Coventry on Saturday.
The targetman had hoped to be back in contention at the Ricoh Arena after working hard on his fitness during the two-week international break.
But manager Alan Irvine has ruled him out of the trip – and probably next Tuesday's home game with Nottingham Forest – as North End take no chances with one of the heroes of last season's great escape.
"They are strange things, backs and we have to be careful," the PNE boss told the Evening Post.
"We are not worrying too much about the injury because Chris is coming along fine. But we want him to be absolutely right before he returns to the fold."
Brown has not kicked a ball in anger this season after developing sciatica before the campaign began.
The last game he played was the friendly against Everton on July 22 when he limped off with a twisted ankle.
The ankle recovered, but he has spent the last month under treatment for a totally separate problem associated with the base of his spine.
"Chris has had a couple of back injuries in the past, so it is something he knows a bit about," said Irvine.
"It is not something which was seen as a massive problem, but it has taken a while to get over.
"If you had told me when he went off against Everton with an ankle problem that he still wouldn't be playing in September, I would have been very surprised. But he has just been unlucky.
"Hopefully he is over the worst of it now and it is just a case of getting him match-fit.
"He is working hard with the physios. He has not joined in with the rest of the lads yet, but he is getting there.
"We are taking each day as it comes. And until he has joined in with us and we have seen how fit he is then he can't really be considered for the first team.
"That is why I wouldn't think he will be available for the weekend. He has not trained with us and so he is still going to be some way off.
"We need to see where his fitness levels are before setting him any targets about coming back."
For full story, see Wednesday's Evening Post
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
