Preston North End injury news for West Brom as Paul Heckingbottom fires passionate plea to Deepdale faithful
PNE are back at Deepdale this weekend as they host West Brom
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom does not expect anyone back for Saturday’s clash against West Brom.
February signing Callum Lang has been out since early March with a hamstring issue, while Ali McCann injured his ankle a few days later at Coventry City. Robbie Brady is the other absentee at the moment.
The Irishman made his first appearance of the season in late February but tweaked his hamstring over the March international break. Heckingbottom had nothing to say on Brady’s expiring contract at the club, but did issue an update on his fitness.
“Robbie's trained fully today,” said Heckingbottom. “Langy’s done part of the session. Ali has not been with us yet, so he’ll be more next week. Langy definitely not (ready for the weekend) and Robbie, no, I’d say no.”
PNE head into the game on the back of a memorable win in the capital. North End came from behind to triumph, 2-1, at Charlton Athletic on the club’s Gentry Day. Heckingbottom and co celebrated in front of two thousand away fans post-match and the occasion was not lost on anyone from a Preston persuasion.
“Yeah, good and well deserved I think,” said Heckingbottom. “What made it extra special was it being Gentry Day and we probably had four times as many fans as we could have possibly had down there, so that was fantastic. I think that 100 per cent added to the feeling of the day, because we played well and then the fans react to the performance of the players.
“There's noise the whole game and then celebrating together, it was great. But in purely football terms, I think it was well deserved and when we look back at the game, there was so many positive things, particularly in possession. We were really positive, really good. We've got to turn up every week.
“Players and fans have got to turn up. This is where I challenge our fans, we've been in this league now a long, long, long time - it counts for nothing. When we came in there was negativity, we were bottom of the league. We've got no right; we've had to fight to get here.
“So, we're doing lots of things well but we need the fans' power to help us and climb up that league. Because whilst we are underdogs, and we are right now without a doubt, it doesn't mean we can't win. But for that we need to perform on the pitch, we need the fans to perform in the stands and we need to understand that we're all fighting together.”
Heckingbottom on Albion
”I think everyone's surprised they were down there with the squad they've got,” the PNE boss told BBC Lancashire. “Results have totally switched, undefeated and really difficult to play against. The set-up is similar to QPR in lots of ways, probably better without the ball but less loose, potentially less dangerous with it.
“But loads of similarities, so we're going to have to be patient when they get in that block. But also then take risks, be willing to lose the ball and just react positively, and then be mindful of them and their good players. They're a squad full of good players and now they're picking up results.”