Preston North End manager gives fitness updates on Paul Gallagher, Andrew Hughes, Tom Bayliss and Billy Bodin

Gallagher, 35, has missed the last three games with a groin injury but is back in training.

Left-back Andrew Hughes has also been able to get more training sessions under his belt this week following an ankle injury.

PNE manager Alex Neil, speaking at his pre-match press conference at Springfields on Thursday morning, said: "Gally is fine, he will be back. He's been training this week.

"Hughesy is fine, we've just been careful with him.

"He hadn't done a lot and this season he's come back three times and played probably a maximum of five or six games and been out again.

"We just needed to get him up and running."

Turning his thoughts to North End's walking wounded, Neil gave an update on Tom Bayliss and Billy Bodin who have been out injured for the last few weeks with ankle and Achilles injuries respectively.

It might be that midfielder Bayliss will need a clean-up operation on his ankle but they are being guided by a specialist on that.

Neil said: "Tom went to see the surgeon and we will have to see what happens with that.

"Potentially he might need surgery just to clean it up a little bit. We have already explored the possibility of doing that but we have to see what comes back from the surgeon.

"Billy's injury is a frustrating one, it's one when he feels okay but his Achilles is still not quite right at the moment so we have to give him time."

Bodin picked up his injury in training last month, getting a blow on the Achilles during a challenge.

That happened in the few days after he scored against Norwich in the FA Cup.

Bayliss was injured in a bounce game against Accrington Stanley in January, with him going over on his ankle when tackled from behind.