Stanley Mills returns but key player unavailable... Predicted Preston starting XI vs West Brom

Preston North End take on West Brom at Deepdale on Saturday in desperate need of a win, but how will they line-up for the game?

It’s been a tough start for Graham Alexander but the manager was pleased with some of the ‘encouraging’ signs he saw at Wrexham despite the second heavy away defeat in a row.

He was particular happy with how many bodies got forward for Alfie Devine’s goal, and the increase in attempts on goal compared to his first two matches.

Alexander stressed he wasn’t putting a ‘shine’ on the result, but at least saw the ‘pattern’ of how he wants his side to attack. With that said, it’d be a surprise if Alexander diverted from the 3-4-3 formation at this point, despite the poor results and the limited options defensively.

North End will be without Lewis Gibson for the match as confirmation is awaited on the extent of his injury, while Liam Lindsay is a doubt. He had not training by Wednesday after going off at Wrexham with a dead leg, though the manager did hope he could train on Friday.

Harry Clarke, Caleb Wiley, Liam Gibbs and Ali McCann are all unavailable, with injury, too.

To make matters even worse, stand-in captain Jordan Thompson is suspended for the game after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Wrexham. His absence had gone under the radar as a yellow card he picked up late on in the draw with QPR for dissent had not been registered by some data collectors.

Stanley Mills is back, though, after missing the trip to Wales through his own one-game suspension, and is surely certain to return to the starting XI.

Here’s how Preston could line up in a crucial match against 5th-placed West Brom...