Preston North End still have important work to do in the transfer window, but manager Paul Heckingbottom has some healthy competition already.
The Lilywhites have brought six new players to the club this summer after losing several players from last season’s squad, including Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman, Ryan Ledson and loan men Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Sam Greenwood.
Jack Whatmough has joined Huddersfield Town, with that the only outgoing to date at Deepdale. Heckingbottom has added Daniel Iversen, Pol Valentin, Odel Offiah, Jordan Thompson, Thierry Small and Daniel Jebbison to his ranks.
With the season opener at QPR now three weeks away, selecting a ‘strongest XI’ is not the easiest task - though there are a handful of shoe-ins within the PNE squad. The signs, though, are that we will see game-to-game tweaks and plenty of rotation.
Heckingbottom believes there is a lot more business to get completed in the remaining weeks of the window, so things could look different over the next month or so.
While it’s very much a squad game and everyone will play their part, here is our punt at PNE’s best side and substitutes...
13. SUB: Pol Valentin
It would be no surprise if the Spaniard was picked to start the first game. Valentin will definitely play his part this year. | Getty Images
14. SUB: Liam Lindsay
Lindsay is as commanding in the air as any PNE defender and will get his fair share of the minutes this season. If Gibson goes over to left centre-back you'd expect him to come in. | CameraSport - Alex Dodd
15. SUB: Jordan Storey
Good competition for the defender back there after the signing of Offiah. He was rewarded with a contract until 2028 last season, so is very much in the manager's plans. | CameraSport - Stephanie Meek
16. SUB: Brad Potts
Potts is another who could easily start at Loftus Road, though he is working his way back from injury. It'll be interesting to see what role he plays this season. | CameraSport - Dave Howarth