Preston v MK Dons preview
Last Updated: April 6, 2012 11:46am
Brown: Ruled out for North End
Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Preston North End and Milton Keynes Dons at Deepdale.
Preston will be without Aaron Brown.
Centre-back Brown was deployed as a striker during last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, but the former Aldershot man's afternoon came to an early end when he suffered a dislocated shoulder.
North End goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann played through the pain of a back injury at Hillsborough but hopes to be back at full fitness by Saturday.
Midfielder Danny Mayor has not featured since limping out of last month's victory at Exeter and could be one of up to three players looking to shake off knocks and take part against the Dons. However, manager Graham Westley did not disclose the identity of his doubtful players.
"There's always bumps and always bruises," he said. "There's two or three who are in doubt. There might be one or two who start on the bench rather than in the XI because they might be able to make a contribution but might not be ready from the start.
"So we'll have a look at them and make some decisions on Friday morning once we've let them settle down."
MK Dons have defensive problems ahead of the trip.
More pertinently, it is the right-back position that is once again blighting boss Karl Robinson.
On-loan duo Adam Smith and James Tavernier had already been injured playing there this season before Mathias Doumbe and Luke Chadwick ended up in the treatment room while filling in against Carlisle last week.
Tavernier was recalled by Newcastle on Wednesday while Doumbe (groin) will remain out and Chadwick (knee) is a doubt, so Adam Chicksen is expected to fill in at right-back at Deepdale.
"It is a jinxed position. It has been cursed this season," said Robinson.
Forward Dean Bowditch (groin) is also out while defender Gary MacKenzie, who has been sidelined for almost six weeks due to suspension and injury, is rated at 50/50.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
