Preston North End v Reading team news: Home debuts for PNE trio but a last-minute change is forced on Alex Neil

Having initially named an unchanged starting XI, Andrew Hughes was forced to pull out of the side shortly before kick-off.

That saw Joe Rafferty promoted to the side from the bench, with Jack Baxter coming in among the substitutes.

There were home debuts for Jayson Molumby, Ben Whiteman and Daniel Iversen after their appearances so far had come in away games.

North End's other January recruit, Ched Evans, was named on the bench.

The game is being televised live on Sky Sports and kick-off at 12.30pm.

PNE: Iversen, Browne, Huntington, Davies, Rafferty, Ledson, Whiteman, Sinclair, Molumby, Potts, Riis. Subs: Fisher, Baxter Johnson, Gallagher, Bayliss, O'Reilly, Barkhuizen, Evans, Ripley.

Reading: Rafael, Holmes, Morrison, McIntyre, Richards, Rinomhota, Laurent, Aluko, Swfit, Ejaria, Joao. Subs: Esteves, Olise, Baldock, Gibson, Semedo, Tetek, Onen, Camara, Southwood.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham)

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