Preston midfielder Kevin Nicholls is likely to be sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury.
Former skipper out for six weeks
Preston North End midfielder Kevin Nicholls is likely to be sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury.
Nicholls picked up the problem while playing for the reserves against Tranmere on Monday and is waiting to learn if he requires an operation.
He will visit a consultant next week and Preston boss Alan Irvine expects to be without the 29-year-old for at least a month.
"My first thoughts were that it was a bad one and he was hurt quite a lot in the challenge, but we need to get it checked out," Irvine told the club's official website.
"An initial MRI scan has revealed cartlidge damage and that means that he will probably need an operation.
"Kevin will see a consultant next Tuesday and if he agrees with our diagnosis then he will have an operation which will probably keep him out of action for four to six weeks."
Nicholls, who moved to Deepdale from Leeds United last summer, has made just two brief substitute appearances for Preston since the end of November.
