Preston take on Coventry City on Wednesday night and have received an unexpected boost from Blackburn Rovers ahead of the game.
You will rarely hear of Blackburn doing Preston a favour but they may have inadvertently done that with the signing of Dominic Hyam.
Rovers have announced the arrival of Coventry defender Hyam, handing him a three-year deal at Ewood Park.
The Coventry Telegraph note that Rovers are paying around £1.5million to take Hyam away from the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Hyam has been a regular for Coventry ever since signing from Reading back in the summer of 2017.
Hyam has gone after racking up nearly 200 appearances for the Sky Blues and his departure comes just as North End head to take on Coventry.
After issues with their pitch, Coventry will finally play a home league game by hosting Preston on Wednesday night.
Losing a key player is never easy though and Hyam – who missed just six league games in the previous two seasons combined – certainly fits that bill.
Without Hyam in action against Hull City on Saturday, Coventry went with a back three of Michael Rose, veteran Kyle McFadzean and Nottingham Forest loanee Jonathan Panzo.
Manchester City loanee Callum Doyle could come in though having replaced Panzo in the second half away at Hull.
Hyam’s exit comes just as Preston desperately seek goals; we all know it by now but one goal in six games to start the season is a huge concern.
Ryan Lowe and co will take any boost they can get in front of goal right now and Coventry losing a key defender just a couple of days before facing North End could help the Preston cause.
Preston will soon be viewed as a bitter rival to Hyam at Blackburn, but North End will be hoping for some defensive struggles prompted by his exit tomorrow night.