Preston North End's defence under the microscope after undergoing plenty of change

The backline has had a big change in recent weeks due to transfer business and injury.

During the window two new centre-halves, a new left-back and a new keeper have booked in at Deepdale.

Liam Lindsay and Sepp van den Berg are the two recruits in the middle, Greg Cunningham has come in at left-back and Daniel Iversen is between the posts.

Since the beginning of December, Patrick Bauer has been ruled out with an Achilles injury.

Goalkeeper Declan Rudd joined him on the injured list in early January.

Last week, right-back Darnell Fisher was sold to Middlesbrough, then on Monday Josh Earl went on loan to Burton, followed by the big one on deadline day with Ben Davies joining Liverpool.

That is a big turnover in the backline, an area which traditionally benefits from stability.

When you look back over the season, there has been a lot of change in the defence.

Against Swansea City on the opening day, the back four was Alan Browne, Jordan Storey, Davies and Andrew Hughes.

Bauer stepped back in for the 2-2 draw at Norwich to partner Davies and they stayed together for league games until Davies hurt his ankle against Cardiff in October.

In Davies’ absence, Bauer and Storey were paired together, then an injury to Bauer brought Paul Huntington into the defence with Storey.

Bauer returned to be briefly reunited with Davies before the German’s season was ended by a snapped Achilles tendon at Bournemouth.

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