Preston North End star gets injury boost ahead of Oxford United and Coventry City fixtures
The PNE number one has been absent since mid-January due to a groin issue
Preston North End will assess Daniel Iversen after training on Thursday, ahead of Oxford United’s trip to Deepdale.
The Lilywhites have been without their first choice shot-stopper since Derby County’s visit to Lancashire, on January 17. In that time, PNE have picked up one win, three draws and suffered five defeats.
Iversen has been able to dive, catch and throw for a while now but, due to the injury being his groin, kicking a ball has been the problem. Judging by Paul Heckingbottom’s latest comments, a return isn’t far away.
”He went and had an injection to try and get over the last little bit that was niggling him on Friday,” said the PNE boss. “So, he's been back in training today. We'll know more, probably, from how he reacts to training today.”
On the team’s form without Iversen, he added: “Listen, we know we should’ve had more wins. Those last-minute incidents, could have helped, but we should have got over the line whether that was the Ipswich one, or the two of late.
“We should’ve got over the line; we didn't. But there's no getting away from how well Dan's done for us this season... I said how important it was and how pleased I was to get him. I think he brings a hell of a lot to our team.
“So he's been missed when he's not played. It's hard to highlight and say, ‘Yes, Dan would have done this, Dan would have done that.’ You can't tell, but we certainly miss him, without a doubt. You can't get away from that.”
North End’s triple blow
Preston sat fourth in early January and are now 11th, eight points adrift of sixth. While Heckingbottom does not care for excuses, can the injury to Iversen and loss of loan star Harrison Armstrong - as well as a calamitous Deepdale pitch - be ignored?
“Listen, they are (massive blows) because you always want to be taking a step forward, but it’s the same at every club,” said Heckingbottom. “We are not unique in that. It’s then about trying to find solutions.
“You have dips in form throughout seasons. We've had a lot of players not performing at the levels now, as they were at the start of the season. We have to try and deal with that. That's just how it is; that's why you need a squad.
“We changed players, we've lowered the age of the group a lot and there's been a lot of minutes played by a lot of young players. That's how you have natural dips, a lot playing the most minutes they've ever played in the Championship.
“Or, at first-team level. There's so many things that come into it. You can't just put it down to an injury, loss of a player. There's so many things and that's why you get what you deserve at the end of a season.
“The strongest teams end up being successful because they've managed those ups and downs, those dips, better than others. Or, they've been fortunate and not had as many things to contend with.”
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