Preston have been handed a boost with the news Youl Mawene's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.
Defender still ruled out until New Year
Preston have been handed a boost with the news Youl Mawene's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.
The central defender suffered the knee problem in last week's defeat to Newcastle and it was feared he may have sustained cruciate ligament damage, which would have ruled him for several months.
However, scans have shown Mawene has suffered nothing more than medial ligament damage which will sideline him until the New Year.
Preston boss Alan Irvine was delighted to learn the injury was not more serious.
"It looks like Youl's got a tear in his medial ligament which would keep him out for some time," said Irvine. "His cruciate ligament is okay which is a major thing without any doubt, so I'm delighted about that.
"He'll certainly be out for the rest of this calendar year but how long it takes for him to get back, you're talking about months rather than weeks."
