Graham Alexander makes two changes for Preston North End team vs Stoke City

Graham Alexander has named his starting XI for Saturday’s Championship clash against Stoke City, with Callum Lang and Jordan Thompson coming into the side.

It’s been an uplifting week for Preston after stopping the losing streak and finally getting their first point under Alexander in the battling draw with West Brom.

The full-blooded performance, along with the point, have had a galvanising impact but it’s crucial North End now build on that positivity against another side with promotion ambitions.

To achieve it, Alexander has made a couple of alterations to the side, though it seems the 3-4-1-2 formation will be here to stay after it worked really well against Albion.

However, right wing-back Stanley Mills has been dropped to the bench, with Brad Potts presumably tasked with moving out to the flank despite Alexander saying he saw him as more of a midfielder in mid-week.

Thompson has returned to the side following his suspension, while Lang has replaced Alfie Devine in attack.

Devine was struggling with a calf injury last week but was given the all clear in a scan and trained all week. Alexander praised Moran in his pre-match press conference but the Irishman has not made the starting XI.

The full Preston starting XI reads: Iversen; Offiah, Storey, Hughes; Potts, Thompson, Leroy, Vukcevic; Lang; Kenny, Burgzorg.

On the bench, North End have welcome Liam Lindsay back to the fold after he missed last weekend’s game.

The full list of subs is: Nicholls, Lindsay, Devine, Erabi, Small, Wiley, Mills, Moran, Nolan.

They’re up against a talented Stoke side this afternoon, with Mark Robbins also lining his team up in a back-three: Johansson, Wilmot, Lawal, Graham, Johnson, Soumare, Galbraith, Bombino, McGlynn, Devenny, Bozenik.

Their substitutes are: Griffiths, Talovierov, Tchmadeu, Pearson, Ingelsson, Rigo, Junho, Manhoef, Hirst.

Kick-off is at 12:30pm and the referee is Adam Herczeg.