Preston North End await Callum Lang injury news as ex-Portsmouth man forced off in fifth outing
Lang joined PNE on transfer deadline day for a ‘club record’ fee
Preston North End will wait to learn the extent of Callum Lang’s injury against Oxford United, on Friday.
The Lilywhites signed the 27-year-old on the final day of the transfer window, for a fee described as a ‘club record’ from Portsmouth. He made his debut off the bench against Watford and provided an assist for Milutin Osmajic’s goal.
Lang then came on as a substitute at Blackburn Rovers before three successive starts against Swansea, Millwall and the U’s. However, just before the half time whistle on Friday evening, the number 10 went down holding his foot, in clear pain.
Speaking post-match, manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “I've not seen. So, I don’t know if it’s a stamp or a twist. Hopefully, the former. I've not spoken to him, I've not seen him and I've not seen Jacko either.”
More injury frustration
Lang arrived at Deepdale on the back of an injury-hit 12 months at Portsmouth - for whom he scored 16 goals in 53 appearances. The versatile attacker tore his hamstring in February 2025 and went on to suffer a couple of further setbacks post-return, the last of those back in November.
Discussing the last year upon his move to PNE, he said: “I think my first hamstring injury was a pretty bad one and when you get your first injury you think you probably don't need the surgery and stuff like that. So, I pushed through it, rushed back because I wanted to help Portsmouth stay in the league with the position that we were in.
“I really wanted to rush back and help the team as much as possible and looking back at that, it was probably the wrong decision. I came back and then I needed the surgery in the end, but now I've had the surgery I feel pretty comfortable with how it's feeling and yeah, strong in the gym, strong on the training pitch.”