Monday 17 October 2011 15:35, UK
Preston boss Phil Brown has a striking headache to contend with after injuries to Iain Hume and Neil Mellor.
Hume suffered a hamstring problem while on international duty with Canada last week and missed Saturday's surprise defeat at Walsall. Mellor did start at the Banks's Stadium but had to be withdrawn at half-time after a heavy challenge from Adam Chambers inflicted an ankle injury on the former Liverpool striker. Both men are now a doubt for Wednesday's rearranged visit of Sheffield United, and Brown told the Lancashire Evening Post: "Iain has pulled his hamstring and he was a big miss at Walsall. At the moment there's a question mark about how long he's going to be out. "As for Neil Mellor, he left the ground on crutches on Saturday and unfortunately I don't think he will be able to play any part in the two games this week. "I don't know Neil in terms of his recovery rates. Again, we'll have another look at him once things have settled down and we might get a better idea."