Ryan Lowe explains absence of Preston North End duo in latest pre-season friendly
PNE were without a couple of players on Tuesday night
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe says Freddie Woodman missed the Salford City friendly due to illness.
The number one was named in the Lilywhites’ starting XI at the Peninsula Stadium, but withdrew from the team during PNE’s warm-up. He soon joined some other players sitting in the stand and didn’t appear to be moving too comfortably.
Dai Cornell went in between the sticks and played the 90 minutes, as goals from Robbie Brady and Milutin Osmajic saw North End run out 2-0 winners. As well as Woodman, there was no involvement for striker Layton Stewart. Post-match, Preston’s boss discussed both absentees and calmed fears over a potential injury to PNE’s shot-stopper.
“Yeah, he just had a bit of a thigh strain last week, Layton,” said Lowe, after the win over Salford City. “So, we’ll just nurture him because of his history. He was on the grass today and yesterday and he’ll probably join in with training on Thursday and Friday.
“Fred just felt a little bit unwell. He felt a bit dazed and whatnot and didn’t feel too good. Dai was going to play 45 minutes anyway so we just thought ‘You know what? There’s no point. Let’s give Dai 90 minutes and that will do him well.”
North End remained without the injured Ali McCann, but striker Osmajic returned from his period out and got on the score sheet late in the day. The Montenegro international slotted home from close range, as a result of Mads Frokjaer’s cross. Lowe was pleased to see his number 28 get on the score sheet, ahead of the new season starting.
“Two of them were in between the goalposts,” said Lowe. “If you’re in between the goalposts you get an opportunity, it’s as simple as that. All the best strikers get in there. Yeah it was scruffy, it probably hit his ankle, but I’m not bothered as long as the ball hits the back of the net. It was nice to see him get more minutes than we probably expected, because he has that little niggle in his back. But yeah, a goal for him and hopefully that’ll give him a bit of confidence.”