What would Preston North End’s starting XI be if boss Alex Neil went solely on the average ratings they were given by WhoScored.com?

The statistics website provides match data and player ratings on all games.
Patrick Bauer boasts the best average rating this season for PNE.Patrick Bauer boasts the best average rating this season for PNE.
Patrick Bauer boasts the best average rating this season for PNE.

Their statistics for North End in the Championship this season produce some surprises, it must be said.

For example Ben Pearson is not in their best XI when it comes to the average ratings they have dished out.

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Yet Louis Moult is, despite playing only twice before injury curtailed his season.

Despite being ranked 17th in the overall scores, Declan Rudd gets the nod in goal as the highest-rated keeper with 6.48 out of 10.

On the right-hand side of the four-man defence is Darnell Fisher with an average score of 6.85.

Despite his 11 yellow cards so far this campaign, his four assists have helped him to a sixth-place position in the overall rankings.

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Alongside the former Rotherham United man is PNE’s best player of the season so far Patrick Bauer.

The German who was brought in on a Bosman free from Charlton Athletic last summer was an instant hit and it has shown in the stats.

One of only three players to average above a seven, his 7.07 cannot be matched in the North End squad.

Partnering Bauer at the back is his perfect foil Ben Davies, who edged out Paul Huntington by 0.02 of a rating, with Davies ranked 10th overall and ‘Hunts’ sitting in 11th.

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Rounding off the back four is Andrew Hughes. The 27-year-old is fourth in the overall standings, at a 6.91 rating, despite not registering a goal or assist so far this season.

At the base of a two-man midfield is Alan Browne. The Republic of Ireland international is eighth in the overall list with a 6.80 average rating.

Though not hitting the heights of his recent seasons, Browne has grown into this campaign.

Alongside Browne is Paul Gallagher, the fifth highest rated player in the squad.

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The dead ball specialist has six goals this campaign and has laid on two more for others, a 6.86 rating on average.

On the right-hand side of midfield, or the three in the usual 4-2-3-1 system, is Billy Bodin.

A man that little has been seen of this campaign due to injury misfortune but he has shown in the 15 games he’s been involved in what he is capable of.

Bodin comes in ninth overall, picking up a 6.78 average rating, having scored twice but not yet registering an assist.

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In the middle of the three is many people’s player of the season so far Daniel Johnson.

A driving force for PNE this campaign, his presence was sorely missed when out with a knee injury for seven weeks.

Johnson’s 7.05 average rating, and second spot overall, backs up why that was the case.

Eleven goals and five assists is the best in both areas by any player in the Preston squad.

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On the left is Tom Barkhuizen. The 26-year-old has nine goals and four assists this campaign and is averaging a rating of 6.81, putting him in seventh overall.

Finishing off the average rating XI is a man that we have seen very little of this season, through no fault of his own.

Striker Louis Moult started the season well but ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the defeat at Swansea in August.

That injury effectively ended his campaign just three games in and even the elongated schedule caused the Covid-19 outbreak is unlikely to see him involved in 2019/20.

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Moult is ranked third overall from his two appearances, averaging 7.03, scoring once.

Notably missing out are Pearson, Sean Maguire and Josh Harrop.

Pearson has been in brilliant form all season and is undeniably one of the best players in the North End squad, but the WhoScored.com stats say otherwise.

In 12th, a 6.70 is the same as Huntington and he is 0.1 of a rating behind Browne.

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Maguire and Harrop have both often occupied the left-wing spot and just 0.01 separates the pair in 13th and 14th.

The team (4-2-3-1): Rudd (6.48, 17th), Fisher (6.85, 6th), Bauer (7.07, 1st), Davies (6.72, 10th), Hughes (6.91, 4th), Browne (6.80, 8th), Gallagher (6.86, 5th), Bodin (6.78, 9th), Johnson (7.05, 2nd), Barkhuizen (6.81, 7th), Moult (7.03, 3rd).