Alex Neil gives update on three PNE players for Cardiff City game

Ryan Ledson, Sean Maguire and Billy Bodin were all notable absentees in the defeat against Watford on Tuesday.

Maguire's last appearance for PNE came almost two weeks ago, a substitute appearance against Rotherham United.

Since then he has not featured in a matchday squad against either Blackburn Rovers or Watford.

Bodin has had a set back in his recovery, picking up a knock but he is yet to return to the training pitch, so the decision with the Welshman hasn't been a close run thing.

Midfielder Ryan Ledson picked up his injury at Ewood Park and could be in contention for the weekend.

Neil said: "We'll see how they are over the next day or so. It's hard to answer that question at the moment because I'm not 100 per cent sure.

"Ryan's was at Blackburn, it was just a contact injury.

"Unfortunately he didn't recover for Watford but we'll see how he goes for the next game."

In recent weeks one of the most pleasing areas of PNE's play has come from the defence.

Still adapting to a new look back there, Liam Lindsay and Jordan Storey have shown early signs of a blossoming partnership.

For the 39-year-old PNE boss, it can sometimes go under the radar how his team have had to adapt to a lot of change recently.

He said: "In the last two games they've done well. I was disappointed against Rotherham, we've spoken at length about that.

"In the last two games though we've been very good defensively.

"What you have to remember is not only do we have a new defence in terms of the centre back partnership, but we've also got a new goalkeeper, we've also got a new centre midfielder and a new centre forward.

"The spine of our team is unrecognisable from what it's been for the best part of three season.

"I don't think it's recognised how hard that can be for the lads and the team.

"We've been used to a certain way of playing and we've developed a certain way of playing over a couple of years and now we're back to square one again."

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