Preston's team selection is being hindered by an injury which left them with ten men at the Amex.

North End were a man down when Simon Makienok’s far post header earned a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Albion in mid-October.

Their midfielder John Welsh had just left the action with a torn calf muscle.

Welch is still sidelined and would have been the obvious stand-in for Ben Pearson, who starts a two-game ban when Albion go to Deepdale on Saturday.

The all-action Pearson, who is invariably Preston’s heartbeat from the middle of the park, reached ten bookings for the season when he was cautioned for a foul on Granit Xhaka in last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.

In Welsh’s ongoing absence, Alan Browne is favourite to join Daniel Johnson in central midfield should North End retain the 4-4-2 set-up which put them in front against the Gunners.

Had Pearson been available, boss Simon Grayson may well have named an unchanged XI.

Five-goal Jordan Hugill is likely to start as centre-forward ahead of the towering Makienok.

Callum Robinson, who scored against Arsenal, looks a certain starter Robinson can play up front or alternatively go wide, which would give Grayson the option of shifting Paul Gallagher infield and going 4-5-1 in mid-match.

Jermaine Beckford completes the four-game ban incurred for his sending-off for kicking out at an opponent in the 4-1 defeat at home to Leeds on Boxing Day. It was the former Everton striker’s second red card in successive appearances.

Pacey winger Tom Barkhuizen, a recent signing from Morecambe, was cup-tied last week but is likely to return to the bench.