Coventry v Preston preview

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The Sky Blues are sweating over the fitness of defender Jordan Clarke, who has been struggling with a dead leg this week and will be assessed as late as possible as Coventry aim to record a third successive League One victory.

Captain Carl Baker serves the third and final match of his suspension following his red card at Leyton Orient in the Capital One Cup.

The visit of Preston will be Coventry’s second home match of their scheduled three-year groundshare with Northampton, with the maiden fixture finishing in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Bristol City earlier this month.

Forwards Iain Hume and Stuart Beavon are back to full fitness to give boss Simon Grayson plenty of options for the Lilywhites’s trip to the west Midlands.

North End have drawn all three of their opening League One games and had failed to find the net until they grabbed two against MK Dons last Saturday.

Beavon came off the bench to feature for the first time this year due to a knee injury and, after also turning out for the reserves since, he has declared himself ready and available.

Hume (groin) was an unused substitute at Deepdale last week but could come into the reckoning, especially with fellow striker Jack King (foot) undergoing an operation this week.

Coventry v Preston preview

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Coventry left-back Blair Adams extended his loan stay from Sunderland on Tuesday and is therefore available, along with fellow loanee James Bailey.

The pair both started City’s quarter-final success over Sheffield United.

Striker Leon Clarke did not play in the competition during his loan spell with Scunthorpe over the first half of the season and is therefore not cup-tied.

Manager Mark Robins is also unlikely to have any fresh injury concerns to contend with.

Therefore the only players who may not be considered are returning long-term absentees David Bell (toe) and Callum Ball (foot), who are both on the brink of full fitness.

Joe Garner is in line to make his Preston debut.

The 24-year-old agreed an 18-month deal with North End on Tuesday, a day after his contract at Watford was cancelled by mutual consent.

Centre-half Luke Foster will return to contention after being cup-tied for the FA Cup defeat at Millwall and could be joined in Graham Westley’s squad by fellow defender Bailey Wright (head) and wideman Lee Holmes (groin) after the duo displayed progress in recovering from their respective injuries.

John Mousinho is set for a lengthy spell out of action after tearing his hamstring in the early stages of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at The Den.

He joins Keith Keane (knee), fellow defender Scott Laird (broken leg) and forward Lee Trundle (hamstring) on the sidelines.

David Buchanan and Paul Huntington returned from injury to play at the weekend and are expected to feature once more.

Coventry v Preston preview

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Marlon King is expected to make his long-awaited Coventry debut when Preston visit.

The striker finally completed his move to the Sky Blues on Monday and could start against North End having maintained his fitness while training over recent weeks and taking part in reserve games.

His arrival is not the only piece of good news for manager Aidy Boothroyd who is also boosted by the availability of Danny Ward (calf), Michael McIndoe, David Bell and Gary McSheffrey (all hamstring) after injury.

However, despite the return of his influential midfield quartet, Boothroyd remains without at least seven professionals including the likes of Freddy Eastwood, James McPake, Gary Deegan, Chris Hussey and Stephen O’Halloran.

City will be looking to build on last weekend’s 2-1 win at Bristol City and maintain their unbeaten home record against a struggling North End side reeling from five successive defeats.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson is boosted by the availability of striker Iain Hume for the clash.

The on-loan Barnsley frontman was ineligible for Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat at Wigan having played in the competition in an earlier round for his parent club.

He will now come back into contention and may earn a starting role as Ferguson’s men bid to arrest their dismal slump in form.

Winger Keith Treacy succumbed to injury in the second half at the DW Stadium and will be assessed while defender Callum Davidson missed out with a calf strain.

Both players may miss out while on-loan Manchester United duo Matt James and Josh King are also expected to remain sidelined with ankle injuries.