Preston North End boss Alex Neil says extra height was the reason for Tom Clarke coming on in the win at Wigan

Tom Clarke and Alan Browne defend in the air in the latter stages of Preston's win at Wigan Athletic

Club captain Clarke replaced Andrew Hughes in the 72nd minute of the 2-1 victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

It meant a bit of swapping around, Darnell Fisher moving across the pitch to play in Hughes' left-back position and Clarke taking over at right-back.

Hughes had been playing his first game since New Year's Day and came off as a precautionary measure after feeling his hamstring.

Preston left-back Andrew Hughes challenges in the air against Wigan

Neil said: "Defending in the box we needed height.

"If I had taken Hughesy off who is a big picker-upper for us and put Joe Rafferty in, we would have been smaller at that point.

"Tom is really aggressive in the air, he made three clearances at the far post when crosses were coming in. We dealt with them really well."

Hughes had been picked ahead of Rafferty who has filled in a lot at left-back this season despite being a natural right-back.

Neil said: "Hughesy gives us that natural balance as a left-footed player.

"We wanted to draw Wigan's wing-backs out and we needed that shape of pass rather than have a right-footer which leads to everyone being forced in field where it is crowded.

"I thought Hughesy was a good option for us.

"He was just feeling his hamstring a bit which is nothing to worry about."