Top scorer Scott Sinclair hopes for Preston North End recall at Blackburn

Scott Sinclair will be eyeing a recall to the Preston North End side for Friday’s derby clash at Blackburn after being benched for the Rotherham defeat last Saturday.
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Top scorer Sinclair came on as part of a 66th-minute triple substitution as PNE chased the game.

New signing Anthony Gordon and Tom Barkhuizen were preferred on the wings against the Millers.

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Gordon caught the eye with a lively debut on the left wing but Barkhuizen was off the pace on the other side.

PNE's leading scorer Scott SinclairPNE's leading scorer Scott Sinclair
PNE's leading scorer Scott Sinclair

Sinclair got the ball in the net after coming on, only for his 83rd-minute effort to be ruled out by an offside flag.

As North End boss Alex Neil seeks to get his side firing again, it could well be that Sinclair earns a recall at Ewood Park – scene of his PNE debut in January last year.

The goals have dried up of late for North End which is a concern.

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After scoring in nine successive games from late November through to the end of December, their last six Championship matches have yielded only two goals.

Sinclair scored the winner at Birmingham three weeks ago, then Ched Evans netted what proved to be only a consolation against Rotherham.

They are still joint-eighth highest scorers in the division, one of the sides above them in the scoring stakes being Blackburn who have found the net 42 times.

Sinclair’s eight goals have come in a season when he has started 23 league games and come off the bench twice.

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If the 31-year-old does return to the side, it leaves Gordon and Barkhuizen to contest the other wing.

Sinclair can play on either flank, so operating on the right would allow Gordon to continue on the left.

Although the on-loan Everton man faded as the game went on, his play was exciting earlier.

He had a couple of sights of goal and put himself forward for set-piece duty.

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Neil was encouraged with Gordon’s display but naturally the teenager has a lot to learn.

“You could see how much talent he has but equally what he does have to recognise is when to dribble and when to pass the ball,” said Neil.

“On occasions Rotherham sent a second defender over to double up on him because he was causing them issues.

“That is when he needs to get his head up and make sure he finds the spare player.

“Things like that will come with experience and games.”

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