Preston North End v Swansea City team news - no Daniel Johnson in the PNE squad amid Rangers interest in the midfielder

Speculation started on Friday that Rangers were ready to make a move for Johnson who was PNE's top scorer last season with 12 goals.

His absence from the match day squad only added fuel to the fire that he will soon be on his way to Ibrox although it is unlikely North End would sell for the £2m fee suggested in a national newspaper.

North End manager Alex Neil's first team selection of the 2020/21 season saw Connor Ripley deputise for the injured Declan Rudd as he had done during pre-season.

Alan Browne got the nod at right-back and was given the skipper's armband, with Jordan Storey paired with Ben Davies in the centre of defence - Patrick Bauer on the bench.

In midfield, a strong end to last season and a good pre-season earned Ryan Ledson a start next to Ben Pearson in midfield.

The front three were the trio who played in the friendly at Sheffield United, Billy Bodin and Scott Sinclair flanking Tom Barkhuizen.

PNE: Ripley, Browne, Storey, Davies, Hughes, Pearson, Ledson, Bodin, Potts, Sinclair, Barkhuizen. Subs: Bauer, Harrop, Gallagher, Rafferty, Stockley, Maguire, Hudson.

Swansea: Woodman, Cabango, Guehi, Rodon, Roberts, Smith, Grimes, Gibbs-White, Bidwell, Lowe, Ayew. Subs: Fulton, Routledge, Peterson, Cullen, Dhanda, Naughton, Benda.

Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside)