Thankfully, the international break is over, and domestic action resumes this weekend.
Preston head to Derby County on Saturday afternoon, and will be looking to extend an impressive three-game winning run. However, this looks to be a tricky game for North End.
Whilst being dominant at home, Preston’s away form is a little more patchy. Two wins, two draws and three defeats on the road mean North End have taken just eight points from a possible 21 on the road.
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Add in that our record against Derby isn’t great, and you’d forgive some fans for being a little worried. We’ve beaten the Rams just twice in the last 21 meetings, and haven’t won at Pride Park since the famous 4-0 FA Cup thrashing in 2008.
Still, the international break came at a good time. North End had a few injury concerns, and that break without a league game just allowed a few players to get closer to full fitness.
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There may be no news on Daniel Johnson just yet, but Josh Harrop falls into that category. Harrop missed last month’s game against Leeds, with boss Alex Neil confirming that he had tweaked his hamstring.
Harrop hasn’t been seen since, but Neil has today confirmed that Harrop has been training since Monday, meaning he should be available for the trip to Derby.
Neil is obviously preaching caution with the playmaker, but having the 23-year-old back in the fold is a welcome boost for Saturday’s game, especially after hitting five goals in 11 games this season.