With Daniel Johnson on international duty with Jamaica for the next week, it means he will miss Preston North End’s next three games.
They come against West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City and Millwall. It is a huge blow to the side as the former Aston Villa player has particularly impressed under Ryan Lowe.
Johnson and Alan Browne have excelled in more attacking roles in the side. Johnson has found more space in an advanced number 8 role, tending to move out to the left to find room and cause problems for the opposition. He scored in Lowe’s first game against Barnsley as well as in the FA Cup against Cardiff City. He also provided the assist for captain Browne in the comeback against Sheffield United last week.
There isn’t really anyone quite like DJ in our squad so it is tough to replace him. Perhaps Josh Harrop is the next most attacking player capable of playing in the centre of the park but he is unlikely to get a chance, with a loan move potentially on the cards.
So it falls to Ali McCann and Ryan Ledson as the most likely to come into the side. Both are great players, and will do a fine job I’m sure, but it will have to be a different job to that of Daniel Johnson.
McCann played in Lowe’s first game in charge of the club but it came in an unfamiliar right-wing back role and he struggled. He came off after 69 minutes and hasn’t featured in the league since.
It’s been a settled midfield three in that team, so there hasn’t been much room for manoeuvre. Of course, he did impress before then since his arrival from St Johnstone, and North End fans know he would be an ideal candidate for a tough away game like West Brom.
McCann excelled in the win against Bournemouth last year, going on to score the winner in that game. He’s more of a box to box midfielder than Johnson or Ledson and would be suited to going up against the Baggies midfield.
Ryan Ledson was the club’s player of the year last season after some fantastic displays but sadly in front of empty stadiums.
The 24-year-old was a regular at the start of the season under Frankie McAvoy but hasnt started a game since the home defeat to Cardiff on 20th November. Under Lowe, Ledson has played just 29 minutes but did come on against Swansea City at the weekend and very nearly scored the equaliser.
McCann is probably a better replacement in the sense that he will get more forward than Ledson, so can do part of the job that DJ does. His performance against Bournemouth will play into his hands.
However Ledson would be up for a battle and players like Jake Livermore for West Brom will be a strong presence in the midfield, and Ledson will be up for the competition with him.
Ledson may just get the nod for this one after his cameo at the weekend, but either way Lowe will want to see plenty more of both midfielders.