Preston could face off against Bailey Wright this weekend with the defender potentially featuring for Sunderland against North End.
The international break is, thankfully, coming to an end and Championship football can finally return.
This has felt like a really disrupted period for North End.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II meant the trip to Bristol City was cancelled, then the international break came after a frustrating 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield United.
Ryan Lowe saw the likes of Alan Browne, Robbie Brady, Troy Parrott, Daniel Johnson and Ali McCann head away on international duty.
Now the attention turns to this Saturday’s game as Preston make the long trip up to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
This is the first meeting between the two sides since 2018, when Seani Maguire and Callum Robinson scored to give Preston a 2-0 win.
In this Saturday’s game, Preston may go up against a familiar face in Sunderland defender Bailey Wright.
North End fans will remember Wright, who came up through the Preston youth team having arrived from Australia as a teenager.
Wright emerged as a first-team star at Preston, racking up more than 200 appearances for the Lilywhites.
An important part of North End’s League One promotion-winning side, Wright was popular at Deepdale before he chose to leave in January 2017.
Wright joined Bristol City and after 83 appearances there, moved on to this weekend’s opponents Sunderland in 2020.
A move to Wigan Athletic fell through in 2021, and with Wright seemingly viewed as an expendable player at Sunderland, his renaissance has been hugely impressive.
Wright now has another League One promotion on his CV having gone up with Sunderland and he should feature against Preston.
The 30-year-old defender did miss recent games against Reading and Watford due to family reasons according to Tony Mowbray, but is expected to return this weekend.
Wright has mostly been on the bench this season but he will return to the squad this weekend and will be in contention to start against Ryan Lowe’s Preston.
A proven and experienced defender, Wright will be looking to claim a win over his former employers this weekend and Preston should be well aware of his qualities, especially with former teammate Paul Gallagher on the coaching staff.