Ryan Ledson in the shake-up to fill Preston North End midfield vacancy left by Ben Pearson

It is an area of the squad with plenty of cover available to Alex Neil but getting the dynamic right will be the test for the North End manager.

At Fulham, Neil chose Alan Browne to fill the vacancy left by Pearson.

A big part of the decision to play Browne there was to stifle the creativity of Tom Cairney, the Cottagers’ chief playmaker.

Browne had Daniel Johnson for company in the middle of the pitch, with Brad Potts further forward as the No.10.

The Republic of Ireland international did a decent job on Cairney and does possess a defensive side to his game if it’s needed.

He is not a like-for-like replacement for Pearson, nor is anyone in the squad.

Aspects of Ryan Ledson’s game are similar and he has stood in for Pearson during previous absences.

However, Ledson has not been involved in the squad a great deal of late. He made the bench at Fulham for the first time since February 1.

Ledson’s last league start was at Hull in November, a game in which he played as a right-back.

You have to go back to the 3-1 win over Huddersfield on November 9 for his last Championship start in midfield – that was when Pearson was suspended.

You would argue Browne did enough to be considered for doing the holding role again when QPR come to Deepdale on Saturday.

If he did, there are plenty of options for the more attacking midfield roles.

Johnson and Potts got the nod at Fulham, then there is Josh Harrop and Paul Gallagher to come into consideration.

Harrop was a late sub on Saturday and while Neil likes him operating from the left-hand side, he did very well when used as the ‘10’.

Illness ruled Gallagher out at Fulham but he should be available against QPR.

Gallagher is an option to use in a deeper role next to the holder, to get on the ball and build play.

If QPR choose to come and sit behind the ball, as Millwall and Hull both did in the last two home games, it could need Gallagher’s craft to help unpick the Londoners.

Pearson being absent at least means he is safe from a two-match ban for 10 yellow cards – the cut-off point is the QPR game.