Preston North End midfielder Ben Pearson facing a month out with a hamstring injury

The midfielder got the injury at West Bromwich Albion last Tuesday and missed Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Fulham.

Neil said: "Ben is probably going to be missing for a month which is frustrating.

"It is a hamstring, He felt it against West Brom and we didn't think it was going to an issue.

"We sent him for a scan hoping to just tick the box and that he'd be okay.

"But the scan came back to show he an issue with his hamstring."

Neil was bitterly disappointed and frustrated to lose at Craven Cottage.

North End were the better side in the first half and missed some good chances, that coming back to bite them in the second half.

David Nugent put through his own goal in the 58th minute before Aboubakar Kamara wrapped it up on the counter attack four minutes into stoppage-time.

Neil said: "In the first half we had a goal disallowed and had three really good opportunities to score.

"Although Fulham had a little bit of pressure they didn't have chances when you thought they should have scored in that period.

"We started brightly in the second half, there wasn't much of an issue.

"Then a set play comes in and we were in a good position to clear the ball. I don't really know how it happened but it ended up hitting Nugen's head and went in the back of the net.

"The first goal is really important. After that they turned the ball up to Aleksandar Mitrovic, had pressure and kept the full-backs in.

"We forced the issue, went two up front and late on got a corner.

"We put everyone in to hopefully have one last attempt but we under hit the corner and don't recover quick enough.

"It ended up a 2-0 scoreline which I think flattered Fulham. I certainly didn't think it was a 2-0 game.

"Up until the first goal I thought we were the side who deserved to be winning. We had the better opportunities.

"Then we were the makers of our own downfall."