Jason Euell on ‘much needed’ international break for Preston North End and injury update
PNE now have three weeks without a game.
Interim manager Jason Euell has stressed the importance of the upcoming international break for Preston North End.
PNE drew 2-2 with QPR on Saturday despite playing the vast majority of the game with an extra man and being 2-0 up at half time. The result means North End stay second from bottom in the Championship.
The top two tiers in English football now pause for three weeks as players represent their countries in an extended international break. Jordan Thompson has been called up to Northern Ireland’s squad for their Nations League games, in the only selection from the PNE pool.
Speaking post-match, Euell looked ahead to what could be a crucial few weeks on the training pitch.
“There's opportunities now for us to start doing something differently to start making sure we get results when we start back in a three weeks' time,” Euell said.
He added: “International breaks can come at different times, you could be on a winning streak and get an international break, and it breaks things up. You could be in that position where we find ourselves and you get that break, and then it's probably much needed because it's a reset.
“Not only on the physical side, but mentally as well. It's the reset which is needed, making sure that we can put things into place to get us ready for that next batch of games.”
Euell gave an injury update to the Lancashire Post, providing the positive news that Lewis Gibson and Caleb Willy should both be fit after the break.
Gibson suffered a knock towards the end of the defeat at Watford while Wiley was being treated with caution after tightening up before the game against Lincoln.