Mark McCammon had an Afro in training yesterday but it is not just his hairstyle that has suddenly expanded.

So too have his hopes of regular first team football again with Albion.

At the start of the season McCammon was, at best, fifth choice striker out of six. Three weeks on, Federico Turienzo is struggling with injury and Colin Kazim-Richards for form, Leon Knight has been switched into midfield and Chris McPhee is out on loan to Aldershot.

McCammon, to an even greater extent than Jake Robinson, has been promoted up the pecking order to the point where he will be spearheading the attack at Preston tomorrow.

It is a remarkable transformation for the big man, which began at Hull last Saturday with his first appearance since his much-publicised half-time row with manager Mark McGhee at Burnley in April.

McCammon made a positive impact as Robinson's second-half replacement. He built on that with his first goal since February and a man-of-the-match performance in Tuesday's Carling Cup exit at Shrewsbury.

Now McGhee is asking for more of the same as Albion seek a first ever victory at Preston in 12 visits.

"Of all the things that happened at Shrewsbury he was a big success," said McGhee.

"If he played like that for us every week he could have a real effect if we can get Colin firing and Leon firing up there or even Federico.

"Mark playing like that would be a problem for teams but he has not done it often enough.

"He has set his own standard. He has now got to do it week in and week out. It's up to him."

McCammon is not every supporter's cup of tea. He can look clumsy and unco-ordinated but he can also be a real handful for defenders.

Team-mate Guy Butters can testify to that. The veteran centre half often has to mark McCammon in training.

"He's pretty difficult to play against," Butters said.

"He's big and awkward. It's very hard to get above him when he gets in a good leap. He's strong and it's hard work.

"In training yesterday he scored a couple of goals and got across defenders, which the gaffer wants him to do. He hit the post a couple of times as well."

Butters was out-of-favour under Steve Coppell before working his way back into the side and going from strength to strength, so he knows what McCammon has been through these past few months.

"Whatever happened last year has happened and the gaffer has wiped the slate clean," he said.

"Mark has been upset that he has not been playing but that happened to me. It spurs you on to knuckle down and, if you get another chance, take it which he has. Everyone is down if they are not playing. I've been in that situation and it's a test of character as much as anything.

"Some people just say 'I'm fed up, I want a transfer, I want to get away from the club', others just knuckle down, train harder and wait for their chance.

"I think the gaffer would love Mark to be a bit more aggressive than he is. If he had a nasty streak about him he would terrorise defenders."

McGhee would also love a first win of the season. That matters more to him at the moment than another encouraging Championship performance.

"We have played quite well in all the games, apart possibly from the Reading game where we slipped back, not a lot, but maybe five per cent.

"Although we haven't been good enough to win them I think we are doing the right things and heading in the right direction.

"We're passing the ball, we're trying to play, we're trying to get at teams and we look like a team that will score more goals than we did last season, but the result comes first. One-nil off my backside would be quite satisfactory!"

It has been a bum week for Preston so far. Tuesday's third defeat on the trot at home to Barnsley in the Carling Cup after a penalty shoot-out coincided with the sale of last season's top scorer Richard Cresswell to Leeds.

Nevertheless, it is asking a lot for Albion to emulate their rejuvenating 1-0 win at home to Preston at the corresponding stage last season.