Preston North End midfielder Josh Harrop will miss the rest of the season because of cruciate ligament damage

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The 22-year-old was hurt setting up North End's second goal in stoppage-time of the 3-2 reverse at Deepdale.

A scan has revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the same injury which team-mate Billy Bodin sustained on the eve of the season.

Former Manchester United player Harrop is due to have surgery next week once the swelling has subsided and then faces a long spell of rehabilitation.

PNE boss Alex Neil said: "This seems to be the luck we are carrying at the moment but Josh has done his ACL and is going to need surgery to repair it.

"It is going to be a seven-month injury which means he will miss the rest of the season.

"He is devastated, Josh is a young lad who loves playing football and loves being involved, he wants to play for his team.

"Josh came on and made a good positive contribution on Saturday.

"He played a through ball and twisted his knee at the same time and unfortunately that did the damage.

"We are gutted for him, he's a good lad who trains hard.

"That is a couple of times now this season that the lads have had to deal with serious injuries to their mates.

"We will do everything in our power to get him through this and help him come back."

It was feared Harrop's injury was a bad one when he had to be helped from the pitch.

He had a scan on Sunday and got the results later in the day.

Neil said: "As a player you know your own body and Josh was really upset in training on Sunday morning when he was waiting for the scan results.

"He feared it was going to be a bad one and it ends up that it was.

"Naturally he is really upset.

"The lads in the changing room, the staff, the club itself, will do everything possible to be there for him and be a shoulder to cry on if he needs it.

"We'll give him the best possible rehabilitation and care we can."