Boss Alex Neil hoping much-changed Preston side can click into gear against QPR

Alex Neil wants to focus all of his energy on helping Preston North End’s new-look squad click as they enter a key stage of the season.
Ryan LedsonRyan Ledson
Ryan Ledson

The Lilywhites face Queens Park Rangers at Deepdale tonight (7.45pm), the first of two home games in four days.

They host Huddersfield on Saturday, before making the trip to Millwall next Tuesday.

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That is followed by a home clash with Bournemouth, with PNE in need of a decent points return after a rather barren 2021 so far.

Nine Championship games this year have delivered only seven points, leading to a few nervous glances over the shoulder at what it behind them in the table.

The excitement of the busy January transfer window seems a distant memory, now it’s about getting the current squad to perform.

“The conversation seems to come up at every press conference about the squad and rebuilding,” said Neil.

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“It sounds like I’m steering it that way but I don’t want to steer it that way.

“We lost two players late in the window which we didn’t plan for and we lost a couple of the guys to injury for the rest of the season.

“What I’m trying to do is focus on the lads who are here, I don’t want to talk about the guys who were here but have moved on.

“We are now starting a rebuild, we all accept that.

“Let’s focus on the lads who are here and trying to win the games coming up.

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“I hope people understand the reasons why we’ve made a few mistakes and at times look a bit disjointed.

“We are trying to make it better, that won’t happen overnight. It’s not easy to do but I’m doing my best.”

Neil is set to make changes to the side tonight in response to the 4-0 defeat at Cardiff.

Birthday boy Anthony Gordon will be pushing for a start, the Everton loanee impressing as a sub in Saturday’s loss.

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Another player with an Everton background, Ryan Ledson, is a player Neil would like to have available after two games out injured.

Neil said: “Ryan not playing has been a big blow for us.

“I felt this season had been a big one for Ryan, we had spoken last season about this being his year.

“Ryan and Ben Whiteman had built up a good understanding quickly and him not being there has hurt us in that central area.

“Those two bounce off each other well, I thought they had a good balance – the balance in the two games Ryan hasn’t played hasn’t been as good.”

Whether PNE get Ledson back tonight or this weekend, was something Neil was not committing himself on.

Neil said: “I’m hopeful but we will see how he goes over the next day or so.”