Preston v Crewe preview
Last Updated: December 7, 2012 1:25pm
Elding: Back in contention
Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Preston North End and Crewe Alexandra at Deepdale.
Preston manager Graham Westley will select from the same squad that travelled for the abandoned Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Bury.
Torrential rain before kick-off rendered the Gigg Lane playing surface unplayable, leaving Westley a further three days to mull over who will get the nod among a well-stocked first-team group.
Veteran forward Lee Trundle made a belated Preston debut from the bench against Gillingham in the FA Cup last weekend. A knee injury sustained at Morecambe in pre-season resulted in a lengthy period on the sidelines for the 36-year-old.
Fellow striker Anthony Elding is pushing for selection once more - the on-loan Grimbsy man was cup-tied for the Gillingham game.
Jeffrey Monakana recovered from a dead leg to open the scoring against the Gills and is ready to feature once more.
Defenders Scott Laird (broken leg) and Keith Keane (knee) remain long-term absentees.
Crewe boss Steve Davis must solve a selection dilemma at right-back.
Matt Tootle is suspended after he was sent off during Tuesday night's penalty shoot-out triumph over Doncaster in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Gresty Road.
Utility man Kelvin Mellor would normally deputise but he remains sidelined with a knee injury, meaning Harry Davis or Ollie Turton could be asked to fill the void.
Elsewhere, Davis has selection issues of a more welcome nature after he shuffled his pack to good effect against Rovers.
Goalkeeper Steve Phillips, defender Adam Dugdale, midfield Brad Inman and forward Max Clayton were all handed starts and did their causes for a place in the first XI at Deepdale no harm at all.
Skipper Luke Murphy provides another option in midfield having overcome a niggling groin problem, but striker Ajay Leitch-Smith (ankle) remains on the sidelines.
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 |
