Preston North End and other EFL clubs can now make extra substitutions after rule change

Preston North End will be able to name nine substitutes on the bench and use five of them in games from this weekend.
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The EFL has approved the use of two extra substitutes in all three of their divisions, starting from Friday.

In the Championship, clubs can name up to nine subs and use five, while in Leagues One and Two, there will be seven players allowed on the bench with five allowed on to the pitch.

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Last season when games restarted after the pandemic enforced three-month lockdown, the rules were changed to allow 20-man match day squads and the use of five substitutes.

That took into account the relatively short preparation time players had to get themselves back into shape after the lay-off and a high number of games being squeezed into a short space of time.

Over the summer, EFL and Premier League clubs voted to return to seven-man benches and three subs.

However, the number of injuries suffered in the first two months of the season led to a re-think.

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Clubs voted on the matter over the weekend, the subject having been added to the agenda at last Thursday's EFL board meeting - PNE requesting it be on the agenda.

Preston North End's substitutes during September's 2-2 draw at Norwich CityPreston North End's substitutes during September's 2-2 draw at Norwich City
Preston North End's substitutes during September's 2-2 draw at Norwich City

North End manager Alex Neil was one of those very vocal on the matter, with him calling for an increase of substitutes.

Speaking recently, Neil told the Lancashire Post: "The whole point of the competition is that you want to see the best players playing.

“You need to be able to spread game time out which is not easy at the moment.

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“The extra subs would allow managers to freshen things up in a game, look after players more.

PNE manager Alex Neil briefs substitutes Jayden Stockley, Brad Potts and Scott Sinclair at Brentford last seasonPNE manager Alex Neil briefs substitutes Jayden Stockley, Brad Potts and Scott Sinclair at Brentford last season
PNE manager Alex Neil briefs substitutes Jayden Stockley, Brad Potts and Scott Sinclair at Brentford last season

“If you remember back to our last home game against Birmingham, Andrew Hughes injured his hamstring after we had made our subs.

“He had to stay out there which wasn’t good. Do you have to keep your third sub to the last minute just in case someone picks up a niggle?

“Adding a couple of subs is common sense. If no one else was agreeing with me, I’d still say the same thing.

“I base that on looking after my team and my club.”

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With the EFL having voted for extra substitutes, it will be interesting to see if the Premier League follows the same path.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola have spoken of being strongly in favour of extra substitutes, with England head coach Gareth Southgate adding his support.

There has been resistance though, from other top-flight clubs who argue it will be give the bigger clubs an unfair advantage in games as they have more depth to their squads.

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