PNE defender goes under the knife

Woods went under the knife in London on Wednesday and is expected to miss the whole of the 2016/17 season.

He was injured in the pre-season friendly at Oldham last month, tearing the cruciate and medial ligaments in his right knee.

North End manager Simon Grayson said: “Calum had his operation on Wednesday in London, that was successful.

“He is going to be out for a long period of time but he will be in good hands with Matt Jackson and Tom Little when it comes to getting his rehab done.

“The operation went well which is all you can ask for, he had his cruciate repaired and a couple of other things in there too.

“There was nothing unexpected in there from what we already knew.

“Stevie May was also down in London seeing the surgeon about his knee injury.

“The surgeon was pleased with him, he is making good progress and is still on the timescale we expected.

“Hopefully we will see more of him in the next few weeks and months.”

PNE are looking to bring in a replacement at right-back for Woods.

Updating his search, Grayson said: “We have spoken to two or three clubs since Calum’s injury.

“I could go and sign people tomorrow but I don’t think the couple who are available to me at the moment are really going to make us too much better.

“I’m waiting to see where we go over the next few days to see when others we have asked about are going to be allowed out by their clubs.

“You find a lot of clubs are keeping hold of their players up to the last minute and maybe into the season to see how their deals are going off.

“We have different options, different clubs who we have spoken to.

“We aren’t going to be rushed into doing anything because we have got some options which we can cope with in the shape of Liam Grimshaw, Chris Humphrey and Tom Clarke.

“First and foremost, we want someone who can play right-back and also right wing-back in that we sometimes play with three centre-halves.”