Alex Neil says Preston North End have everything to play for in race to reach Premier League

After a run four wins and two draws from their previous six league games, North End fluffed their lines somewhat last weekend against Millwall.

In front of an expectant Deepdale, PNE lost to a late Millwall goal and missed the opportunity of going third in the Championship table.

As it is, they remain in sixth spot – six points off second-placed Leeds United and an automatic promotion spot.

While disappointed that his men were not able to get the better of the Lions, Neil refuses to get downhearted, as he knows there will be plenty of twists and turns before the end of the season.

“I think if you look at West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United – two of the top teams in this division, occupying first and second place – they typify this division,” Neil said.

“I think one went nine games with just one win and the other went on a run of eights games with no wins, which is incredible when you think where they are both sitting in the division right now.

“For that to happen to them just shows how difficult it is for everybody to put a run of wins together.”

This weekend, North End will look to make home advantage count when they host Hull City at Deepdale.

The Tigers are out of form – picking up just two points from their previous seven league games.

Their cause has not been helped by the loss of two key individuals during the January transfer window.

Polish winger Kamil Grosicki joined the Baggies, while striker Jarrod Bowen moved to Premier League West Ham United.

“I have seen Hull quite a lot recently,” said Neil. “I watched them against Brentford, who were superb on the day against them and deserved to win 5-1, and I watched them against Swansea, which was 4-4.

“That goes to show that they are a threat but equally they do concede.

“I watched them against Blackburn as well when they lost 3-0. They are a very different prospect to what they were before they lost Grosicki and Bowen.

“I think any team losing those two players, it’s obviously going to harm them.

“At the moment they are trying to find their rhythm in terms of having lost those two players.”

Neil revealed that Darnell Fisher is likely to return to the squad after missing last weekend with a slight hamstring strain. Billy Bodin is making progress after injuring his Achilles but is unlikely to be fit to face Hull.

Young midfielder Tom Bayliss has undergone surgery to repair his damaged ankle.