Preston boss Ryan Lowe has admitted that Alvaro Fernandez is back running again as North End consider whether he will be fit to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
North End travel to Molineux tonight with the second round of the Carabao Cup taking centre stage this evening.
The Premier League side should be a great test for Preston even if they rotate their lineup after the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
We can expect to see Wolves unleash the likes of Raul Jimenez, Hwang Hee-chan and Adama Traore on Preston, with the latter a terrifying prospect at the best of times.
Traore’s end product may be hit and miss but his power, speed and ability to go past defenders for fun makes him a huge threat.
Traore would likely play down the right flank with Hwang on the left and Jimenez up top, so whoever plays at left wing back for North End tonight is in for a real test.
Alvaro Fernandez started Preston’s last Carabao Cup game and stole the show, recording two assists in just 45 minutes of action against Huddersfield Town.
Fernandez went off injured at half time in that game though and hasn’t returned since, seemingly suffering problems with his ankle.
The Spaniard wasn’t in the squad to face Watford on Saturday but boss Lowe does have some positive news on his progress.
Lowe has told iFollow that Fernandez is back running again in training, pushing himself closer to a first-team return.
“Alvaro is now running, Bambo is not going to be available but is making good progress, Seani Maguire has obviously trained the last couple of days,” said Lowe. “I asked the medical team whether he would be available for the squad and they said no, it’s too soon because he missed a lot of pre-season,” he added.
This leaves Lowe with a real conundrum.
It may be too soon for Fernandez to come straight back in, especially against a player like Traore, who can give any full back or wing back a rough night.
If Fernandez doesn’t make it, Lowe would then likely have to go with Robbie Brady again.
Brady has been outstanding this season but his injury history means North End would ideally like to manage his minutes – just as they did by leaving him out at Huddersfield.
It’s great to hear that Fernandez is on his way back to fitness, and that big decision is now over to Lowe as he considers how to cope with Traore.