Bailey Wright is set for a switch back to centre-half for Preston’s clash with Stevenage this weekend.
The 20-year-old returned from injury to play at left-back in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against Carlisle.
A tactical change saw him substituted at the interval, the introduction of Lee Holmes seeing Scott Laird drop into Wright’s defensive role.
But the absence of Paul Huntington for the visit to Broadhall Way on Saturday is likely to mean a starting role for the Australian.
Huntington is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the second half of the Carlisle game.
PNE boss Graham Westley said: “One man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.
“I’m sure that Bailey will be itching to go at the weekend.
“Against Carlisle I just felt we weren’t getting our two full-backs high enough up the pitch.
“And because of that we weren’t getting the wingers forward.
“Bailey is a right-footed player playing at left-back, which is a job he has shown he can do well.
“On this occasion, I felt we needed to be more progressive with our game.
“We brought Lee Holmes on and I asked him beforehand how much he had in him.
“Lee said 20 minutes but he got through 45, producing a moment of real quality right at the death for Graham Cummins’ goal.
“He had more in his tank than he thought.”
The booking for Huntington, which rules him out of the Stevenage game, had Westley aggrieved.
It was among a list of complaints he had about referee Richard Clark and his assistants in the aftermath of Carlisle’s visit.
The defender went into the book following an eye-to-eye confrontation with Joe Garner after the United striker’s challenge had dumped him on the floor.
Said Westley: “Why was Hunts yellow carded?
“He got fouled and ended up with a booking which means he is banned for Saturday.
“You look back on decisions throughout the game and think, ‘What is going on’?
“There is something we must have done to create this situation and I don’t know what it is.
“Maybe it is because we are a big club and people feel they have to come and make their mark on us.”
Suspensions have started to bite recently, with Huntington the fourth PNE player to fall foul of the five bookings rule.
Keith Keane was the first to be banned last month, then John Welsh’s caution at Tranmere kept him out of the Yeovil game.
Jeffrey Monakana sat out the Carlisle game, and now Huntington will have an enforced rest this weekend.
Meanwhile, North End have confirmed that their FA Cup second-round tie with Gillingham will take place on Saturday, December 1.
Ticket prices are the same as the first round, with adults being charged £10 and concessions £5.
The Sir Tom Finney Stand and Alan Kelly Town End will be open for PNE fans, with the Invincibles Pavilion operational only for those in executive boxes or the Guild Lounge.
The Lancashire Evening Post has launched a FREE football app which is now available to download on iPhone and Android devices.
Comments