Preston North End man 'absolutely devastated' by injury setback as duo managed carefully

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe says midfielder Ryan Ledson was ‘absolutely devastated’ to suffer his injury setback.

Prior to the March international break, Ledson captained the Lilywhites to victory at Plymouth Argyle. It was his second start of the calendar year and third in 15 games. North End’s number 18 finished the match, but has been absent in the two games since. The PNE man picked up a calf problem in that win a Home Park.

"He was frustrated and gutted, because he didn't think there was anything in it," said Lowe. "It was only a couple of days later, it came to light. He said his calf was sore and we got him scanned. We wanted to be sure what it was and it was a small, soleus calf injury - they are not great. But, he was absolutely devastated because four days later he was walking around and thinking it's fine.

“Those soleus injuries give you a false sense of security - they are horrible. Hopefully he is back in the next week or so. He finished the game and just thought it was a kick, so that's what I'm saying about the false sense - and there was the adrenaline and blood going through his body. He didn't realise until the next day, when it was a bit tight and the day after he said it hadn't gone.”

Two players who have been available and required to dig deep, post-international break, are Ali McCann and Robbie Brady. With North End’s squad depleted, Lowe started both men in the Rotherham and Birmingham games. They will almost certainly be called upon at Vicarage Road, after an important week of rest and recovery.

“Yeah, they are fine for now,” said Lowe. “But that is the worry, because they have played loads. But, they have had a couple of rest days, which will hopefully stand them in good stead. They have been away with internationals, played a lot of minutes, come back and played a lot of minutes. So, I think the last couple of recovery days have done them the world of good. That’s what we are hoping. I am sure they will be a lot fresher today, than they have been.”